Cyber Crime Surge in Maharashtra: 'Digital Arrest' Cases Under Scrutiny

Thirteen individuals have been arrested in Maharashtra for their alleged involvement in 'digital arrest' cyber crimes. The Mumbai police formed teams to address this issue, linking 142 cases to a staggering Rs 114 crore fraud. Efforts are underway to protect senior citizens, a primary target group.

In a concerted effort to curb the growing menace of cyber crimes, authorities in Maharashtra have arrested 13 individuals from seven districts. These arrests are connected to a series of 'digital arrest' frauds, involving substantial monetary transactions, a senior Mumbai police official revealed on Friday.

The arrests were made by 13 specially formed police teams dispatched to various locations, including Solapur, Pune, Nagpur, Satara, and Nashik, starting from November 18. Their objective was to track down those facilitating money transfers in cyber fraud cases, as reported by the police.

The investigation revealed at least 142 such cases in Mumbai alone, with an alarming total of Rs 114 crore involved. In response to these crimes, particularly against vulnerable senior citizens, police have proactively created a database of seniors living alone to provide them with essential security alerts and prevent future exploitation.

(With inputs from agencies.)