Kerala authorities reported several high-value victims of ‘digital arrest’ scams, including a Thrissur industrialist who lost about ₹5.4 crore and a Kannur couple who lost ₹1.5 crore. Police warn fraudsters often coerce payments over months, frequently using bank-account insiders and mule accounts to move money.

Law-enforcement agencies in Kerala are investigating multiple large-scale ‘digital arrest’ frauds after recent complaints from a Thrissur industrialist and a Kannur couple who together lost nearly ₹7 crore. In these schemes, callers impersonate enforcement or regulatory officials and coerce victims into making repeated transfers to avoid fabricated legal consequences, often sustaining pressure over weeks or months. Investigators say the scams commonly involve intermediaries including bank insiders or third-party mule accounts that facilitate rapid dispersal of funds. Despite repeated public advisories, the scams persist, prompting a renewed push to trace transaction flows and dismantle the account networks used for laundering. Authorities are coordinating with banks to freeze suspect accounts and with other jurisdictions to track transfers. Officials are also asking the public to treat any unexpected claims of legal action with caution, verify identities through official agency channels, and report coercive calls immediately. The cases highlight the evolving social-engineering playbook that pairs impersonation with financial system exploitation to extract large sums.