Wed Nov 19 05:59:45 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

A 68-year-old man in Payyoli, India, lost ₹1.51 crore (approximately $18,000 USD) in a virtual arrest scam. Fraudsters posing as enforcement officers contacted him via WhatsApp, claiming he was involved in illegal activities and threatened him with accusations of aiding a banned political outfit. They convinced him to transfer his savings to an account supposedly monitored by the Reserve Bank of India. Despite police awareness campaigns, senior citizens are frequently targeted, with scammers having stolen an estimated ₹3000 crore (approximately $360 million USD) across India. Kozhikode has seen a spike in such incidents, with over 30 cases and ₹16.30 crore lost in the city alone in the past 11 months. Police are investigating and are seeking the aid of a newly formed panel comprising bankers and police.

News Article:

Elderly Man Loses ₹1.51 Crore in Sophisticated Virtual Arrest Scam in Kozhikode

Kozhikode, India – November 19, 2025 – A 68-year-old man from Payyoli has been defrauded of ₹1.51 crore in a virtual arrest scam, highlighting the continued vulnerability of senior citizens to increasingly sophisticated cybercrime tactics. The victim, a gulf-returnee, reported the incident to cyber police on November 18th after realizing he had been duped into transferring his life savings.

The fraudsters, posing as enforcement officers, contacted the man via WhatsApp, falsely accusing him of involvement in illegal transactions and association with a banned political organization. They fabricated claims that he was under investigation for anti-national activities. Through convincing impersonation and by revealing accurate details about his bank accounts and personal information, they manipulated him into transferring his funds to what they claimed was a Reserve Bank of India monitored account.

Preliminary investigations revealed the man transferred the money in two installments last month, believing the funds would be returned after a verification process.

This incident underscores the growing problem of virtual arrest scams targeting senior citizens in India. Despite ongoing awareness campaigns by the police, scammers continue to successfully employ evolving tactics to exploit vulnerabilities. Authorities estimate that approximately ₹3000 crore has been siphoned off from Indian citizens, predominantly senior citizens, through such scams.

The Kozhikode Cyber Police are actively investigating the case, tracking the bank account used to receive the stolen funds. They are seeking assistance from a newly established panel comprised of bankers and police personnel to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

Police data indicates a surge in cybercrime within Kozhikode’s urban areas. In the last 11 months, over 30 cases have been registered in Kozhikode city alone, resulting in a total reported loss of ₹16.30 crore. While 11 suspects have been arrested in connection to these cases, investigations remain ongoing into over 80 registered incidents.

Authorities urge the public, particularly senior citizens, to remain vigilant and skeptical of unsolicited calls or messages from individuals claiming to be law enforcement officials. They advise verifying any such claims independently through official channels.

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