Sun Oct 26 05:53:25 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article based on it:

Summary:

An elderly man in Chennai, India, was defrauded of ₹44 lakh in a “digital arrest scam.” He was tricked into transferring his life savings to accounts controlled by fraudsters who claimed he was under investigation for illegal money transfers. Police have arrested several suspects, including an assistant bank manager who facilitated the opening of fraudulent accounts, and a money transfer agent. The investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the elaborate scheme.

News Article:

Elderly Chennai Resident Swindled of ₹44 Lakh in “Digital Arrest” Scam

Chennai, October 26, 2025 – The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested two additional individuals in connection with a “digital arrest” scam that defrauded an 83-year-old Chennai resident of ₹44 lakh. The latest arrests include an assistant bank manager and a money transfer agent, bringing the total number of suspects apprehended to four.

Pattabi, a resident of Virugambakkam, was targeted between September 1 and 12. He received WhatsApp calls from someone posing as a Mumbai Crime Branch officer, who falsely accused him of illegal money transfers. The scammer convinced Pattabi to transfer his savings to a “Reserve Bank” account for verification, promising its return. Trusting the caller, Pattabi transferred his entire life savings and fixed deposits, totaling ₹44 lakh, in two installments.

Upon realizing he had been duped, Pattabi filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Police. An investigation by the Cyber Crime Wing revealed a complex web of transactions. Funds were initially transferred to an IndusInd Bank account in Telangana, then distributed across multiple accounts in various states and withdrawn via cheques. Police discovered the fraudsters were also transferring the swindled money abroad.

Previously arrested were Lakshmanan (38) and Medi Sivakumar (41) from Sholinghur, Ranipet district, after ₹80 lakh was traced to their accounts. The latest arrests include R. Ramachandramurthy (30), an Assistant Manager at a private bank’s Anna Salai branch, accused of facilitating the opening of fraudulent accounts, and Mohammed Musfiq (20) of Ramanathapuram, who allegedly acted as a money transfer agent.

Police seized mobile phones and SIM cards used in the crime. “The investigation is continuing to trace others involved,” said a CCB spokesperson. The fraudulent bank accounts have been frozen. The case highlights the growing threat of sophisticated cyber scams targeting vulnerable individuals, and the need for heightened awareness and vigilance.

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