Within five hours, while sitting at home in India, retired professor Kamta Prasad Singh handed over his hard-earned savings to online fraudsters impersonating police.
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The cybercrime known as “digital arrest” – where fraudsters pose online as law enforcement officials and order people to transfer huge amounts of money – has become so rampant that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued warnings.
Singh said that money was his life savings.
“Over the years, I have skipped having tea outside, walked to avoid spending on public transport,” the 62-year-old said, his voice breaking.
“Only I know how I saved my money.”
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Police say scammers have exploited the vast gap between the breakneck speed of India’s data digitalisation, from personal details to online banking, and the lagging awareness of many of basic internet safety.