Udupi Resident Surrenders Rs 9.29 Lakh After Falling Victim to Digital Arrest Scam

A Udupi resident transferred ₹9.29 lakh to a phone number after a caller claimed he was about to be digitally arrested for a supposed illegal transaction. The victim, who has requested anonymity, says he was asked to pay immediately to avoid legal trouble.

This incident is part of a growing number of 'digital arrest' scams that target individuals across Karnataka. In these frauds, criminals pose as law‑enforcement officials or banking officers, convincing victims that they will be detained unless they remit money to a predetermined account.

The loss has sparked concern among local commuters and prompted the Udupi Police to issue a cyber alert urging residents to verify any such claims through official hotlines. The victim's funds were traced to a foreign payroll account linked to a reported fraud network. Source: Google News – Udupi.