The ordeal began when the scammers accused Diego of using his SIM card for international criminal activities. They claimed an arrest warrant had been issued against him. To lend credibility to their deception, they introduced a fictitious officer from the telecom cyber cell, "Seema Bisra," who later called Diego. She falsely informed him of a "digital arrest warrant" and threatened legal arrest unless he paid to resolve the matter.
Gripped by fear and under duress, the couple made repeated payments over the course of nearly 150 days. Diego even went to the extent of pledging gold to raise funds. In total, the couple reportedly lost ₹5-6 lakh, though the actual amount might be even higher. The relentless harassment and financial losses took a severe toll on their mental health, culminating in this heartbreaking incident.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cybersecurity awareness, especially for vulnerable communities like senior citizens. It is critical to educate individuals about common cybercrime tactics and reinforce that no legitimate law enforcement agency demands money or conducts arrests via phone or video call.
Let this be a call to action for society, urging stronger cybersecurity measures and community-driven initiatives to protect vulnerable populations from falling prey to such scams
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