Udupi: In a significant breakthrough, Udupi police have arrested a 24-year-old man accused of defrauding a local resident of Rs 89 lakh through a digital fraud scheme. The accused, identified as Kiran from Shahapur in Yadgir district, was apprehended in Dharwad. Authorities have recovered Rs 7 lakh in cash and a mobile phone used in the crime.

The Fraudulent Scheme

According to police reports, Kiran contacted Santosh Kumar (45), a jewelry shop owner in Udupi, on September 11. Posing as a police officer, Kiran falsely claimed that 17 cases had been registered against Santosh for illegal advertising and messaging. Under the threat of a so-called “digital arrest,” he coerced Santosh into transferring Rs 89 lakh to his account.

Realizing later that he had been deceived, Santosh filed a complaint with the Udupi police, prompting an immediate investigation.

Police Investigation and Arrest

A special police team, led by Inspector Ramachandra Nayak, tracked Kiran’s movements across Kerala and Maharashtra before successfully arresting him in Dharwad. During the probe, authorities discovered that Kiran had also transferred Rs 2 lakh to Mohammad Nisham CK, a resident of Kerala, as part of the scam.

The police recovered Rs 5 lakh in cash along with the mobile phone used to execute the fraud. The case remains under further investigation as officials probe potential accomplices and other fraudulent activities linked to Kiran.

Police Advisory

The Udupi police have urged the public to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes. They advise individuals not to transfer money to unknown accounts and to report any suspicious calls to law enforcement immediately.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of digital fraud and the importance of public awareness in preventing such crimes.

Cyber fraud cases are on the rise in recent days, with many individuals losing large sums of money from their bank accounts after receiving fake calls or clicking on fraudulent links. A woman in Bengaluru has become the latest victim, losing a whopping 2 lakh after accepting a fake Interactive Voice Response (IVR) call.

The incident occurred on January 20, when the woman received a call that appeared to be from her bank. The call claimed that 2 lakh would be transferred from her account to another one. She was instructed to press ‘3’ to continue with the transaction or ‘1’ to cancel it. Believing it was a legitimate bank call, the woman pressed ‘1’, only to find that 2 lakh had vanished from her bank account.

Realizing she had fallen victim to a scam, the woman immediately reported the matter to the bank. Subsequently, a case was registered under the Information Technology Act and IPC Section 318.

The rise in online fraud is a growing concern, and experts warn the public to remain vigilant and avoid engaging with unknown calls or clicking suspicious links.

In the Charmadi Ghat area of Mudigere Taluk, Chikkamagalur district, a wildfire has broken out around the Annappa Swamy Temple. The fire is intensifying due to strong winds and is spreading to more areas. The Forest Department and fire-fighting personnel have been working tirelessly to control the blaze. The fire started late on Friday night, and it had been seen in the Bidirutala village area of Charmadi Ghat just four days earlier. Over 500 acres of forest land have been completely destroyed by the fire.