Daijiworld Media Network- Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Feb 26: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, Berhampur University Vice-Chancellor Geetanjali Dash has been duped of Rs14 lac by scammers impersonating officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

A case (15/25) has been registered at the Cyber Crime and Economic Offence Police Station in Berhampur. Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek M. confirmed the incident, stating that VC Dash had filed an FIR on Monday, alleging that cyber fraudsters extorted Rs14 lac from her under the pretext of a “digital arrest.”

According to police sources, Dash received a call from an unknown number on February 12, with the caller claiming to be an ED officer. The fraudster falsely accused her of having links with a suspect under investigation by the central agency, purportedly under Supreme Court monitoring.

"The caller alleged that an account had been opened in her name at Canara Bank, where crores of illegal funds had been deposited. She was then subjected to a ‘digital arrest’ during evening hours," informed Berhampur SP.

Under pressure, the VC was coerced into transferring Rs14 lac to the fraudster’s account via bank cheque for her so-called release from the digital arrest.

Following the FIR, police have initiated an investigation under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act.

It may be recalled that in January this year, Odisha Police’s Crime Branch had arrested a cybercriminal from Madhya Pradesh for scamming a Bhubaneswar-based senior scientist of Rs 1.06 cr using a similar digital arrest fraud.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly urged citizens to stay vigilant against the growing menace of digital arrest scams across the country.