Kerala Police have arrested a man at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in connection with an alleged digital arrest scam in which an 80-year-old doctor from Kasaragod was reportedly defrauded of ₹1.19 crore.

The accused has been identified as Shamsad Choorakuth, a resident of Malattur in Malappuram. Police had issued a lookout circular after discovering that he had travelled abroad for employment.

Investigators allege that Choorakuth and his associates impersonated Mumbai Crime Branch officials and used threats of criminal action to pressure the elderly doctor into transferring large amounts of money.

Doctor Targeted Through Fake Mumbai Crime Branch Calls

According to investigators, the fraud took place between November 24 and December 17, 2025.

The victim, who lives in Nileswaram in Kasaragod, allegedly received repeated phone calls and WhatsApp video calls from people claiming to be Mumbai Crime Branch officers.

The callers reportedly told the doctor that his name had surfaced in a money-laundering investigation. They then falsely informed him that he was under “digital arrest” and instructed him to follow their directions.

The scammers allegedly maintained pressure on the victim by threatening him with legal consequences and claiming that transferring money to designated bank accounts would help establish his innocence.

Under the pressure, the doctor reportedly transferred a total of ₹1,19,35,000 from multiple bank accounts to accounts allegedly controlled by the fraudsters.

Suspect Intercepted at Hyderabad Airport

After receiving the doctor’s complaint, Kasaragod Cyber Police began investigating the financial transactions and communication records connected to the case.

During the investigation, police learned that Choorakuth had travelled outside India for work. Authorities subsequently issued a lookout circular covering immigration checkpoints.

On September 17, immigration officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad reportedly intercepted Choorakuth after he arrived in the country and informed Kerala Police.

A cyber police team from Kasaragod travelled to Hyderabad and took custody of the suspect. Following his formal arrest, he was produced before the Kasaragod Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.

Police Trace Money Trail and Other Suspects

Investigators are now examining the movement of the ₹1.19 crore allegedly transferred by the victim.

Police are scrutinising the bank accounts that received the funds and analysing communication records believed to connect the accused with other members of the suspected cybercrime network.

The investigation is aimed at determining Choorakuth’s specific role and identifying additional individuals who may have participated in the operation.

How Digital Arrest Scams Work

Digital arrest frauds typically rely on impersonation, intimidation and prolonged online interactions.

Scammers may pose as police officers, investigators, judges or other government officials and falsely accuse victims of involvement in serious crimes such as money laundering or financial fraud.

Victims are often told that they are under investigation or “digital arrest” and are instructed to remain connected through phone or video calls. The criminals then use threats of arrest, prosecution or account freezing to pressure victims into transferring money.

The Kasaragod case follows this pattern, with the elderly doctor allegedly being kept under sustained psychological pressure before transferring his savings.

Investigation Continues

The arrest at Hyderabad airport has provided investigators with an opportunity to examine the suspected financial and communication network behind the alleged fraud.

Authorities are expected to continue analysing bank transactions, digital communications and other evidence to identify the wider network and determine whether additional victims or financial accounts are connected to the case.

The Indian government has stepped up efforts to tackle overseas job scams in which people are allegedly recruited through fake employment offers and later trafficked into cyber-fraud operations abroad.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been strengthening coordination between states, Union Territories and law-enforcement agencies to address human trafficking, including cases involving online recruitment and cyber-enabled fraud. The ministry’s Anti-Trafficking Cell works with state authorities and other government departments on enforcement and coordination.

The issue has gained greater attention as Indian nationals have been targeted with promises of lucrative employment overseas before allegedly being forced to work in scam compounds in parts of Southeast Asia.

Fake Overseas Job Offers Under Greater Scrutiny

Recruitment is increasingly beginning online, with fraudsters using social media, messaging platforms and websites to advertise apparently attractive foreign employment opportunities.

Job seekers may be promised positions in areas such as customer service, data entry, sales or technology. In trafficking cases, however, the promised employment can turn out to be fraudulent, with victims allegedly transported to locations where they are forced to participate in online scams.

Authorities are therefore examining the recruitment stage more closely, including suspicious advertisements, recruiters and digital communications.

Investigators can also use messages, payment records, advertisements and other electronic evidence to establish links between local recruiters and wider trafficking networks.

Unregistered Recruitment Agents Pose a Major Risk

Indian nationals seeking employment abroad are advised to verify recruitment agencies and employers before travelling or making payments.

Fraudulent operators may create convincing websites, employment contracts, appointment letters and social-media profiles to make fake job opportunities appear legitimate.

Applicants should independently verify the identity of the recruiter, the employer, the job location, employment conditions and required visa arrangements.

Government advisories have also warned about fake overseas employment networks and encouraged Indians abroad or planning to travel for work to use official channels for assistance.

What Is Cyber Slavery?

The term cyber slavery is increasingly used for cases in which people are trafficked or coerced into working for cybercrime operations.

Victims can initially believe they are accepting legitimate jobs. After reaching another country, they may allegedly face restrictions on movement and be forced to participate in activities such as investment fraud, romance scams, fake customer-support operations or other online schemes.

Such cases can involve two interconnected crimes: human trafficking and cybercrime.

India’s Home Ministry has specifically included cyber slavery in its national cybercrime-awareness efforts, reflecting the overlap between fraudulent recruitment and online criminal networks.

Anti-Trafficking Units Strengthened Across India

The government’s response also involves Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) operating at the state and district levels.

The Ministry of Home Affairs says it has provided financial assistance to states and Union Territories to strengthen existing AHTUs and establish units covering districts across the country. The ministry’s Anti-Trafficking Cell also coordinates with other departments and provides guidance to state authorities.

The government has additionally issued a new August 2026 advisory on countering human trafficking that emphasizes the use of technology and stronger state-level leadership in tackling the crime.

Local Authorities Can Help Identify Suspicious Recruitment

Trafficking operations do not always begin in major cities. Recruiters can target people in smaller towns and rural communities with promises of high-paying foreign jobs.

Local administrations and community-level institutions can therefore help identify suspicious recruitment activity and alert law-enforcement agencies.

Coordination between police, cybercrime teams, anti-trafficking units and other government authorities can also help investigators connect online recruitment activity with financial transactions and travel arrangements.

Government Awareness Campaigns Target Cyber Slavery

The Centre has previously launched public-awareness initiatives specifically addressing cyber slavery and fake job rackets.

According to Ministry of Home Affairs material submitted to Parliament, awareness measures have included television and newspaper advertisements, billboards at airports, railway stations and metro stations, social-media campaigns and other public-information efforts.

The government has also highlighted assistance channels available to Indian nationals abroad through Indian missions, including emergency contacts and grievance mechanisms.

Job Seekers Urged to Verify Offers Before Travelling

The latest enforcement focus highlights the risks associated with accepting overseas employment without independently checking the recruiter and employer.

Applicants should be particularly cautious when a job offer promises unusually high salaries, requires urgent travel or asks for significant payments or personal documents before the employer’s identity can be independently verified.

Official government channels should be used wherever possible to verify overseas employment arrangements and seek assistance when an offer appears suspicious.

The crackdown reflects the changing nature of human trafficking, where recruitment can begin with a seemingly ordinary online job advertisement but ultimately lead to exploitation inside an international cybercrime operation.

New Delhi: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has carried out searches at 19 locations across Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Srinagar as part of a money laundering investigation linked to alleged online investment fraud and fake work-from-home schemes.

The searches were conducted on July 10 and 11 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to the agency, the operation covered 16 locations in Tamil Nadu, two in Kerala and one in Srinagar. The case originated from two cybercrime complaints registered by the Tamil Nadu and Telangana Police.

Victims Allegedly Duped Through Fake Investment Platforms

According to ED officials, the accused allegedly attracted victims through fraudulent online investment platforms and work-from-home opportunities by promising unusually high returns and attractive earning opportunities.

Investigators claim that victims transferred nearly ₹14.95 crore into bank accounts allegedly linked to the accused. The agency is examining the flow of these funds and the methods allegedly used to conceal their origin.

Funds Allegedly Routed Through Mule Accounts and Crypto Channels

The ED has alleged that the suspected proceeds of crime were moved through multiple bank accounts, shell entities and cryptocurrency channels to disguise the financial trail.

Investigators have identified Roshan Fiaz as one of the individuals allegedly involved in the suspected laundering network. The allegations against him and others are part of an ongoing investigation and remain subject to judicial review.

The agency claims that several bank accounts were opened shortly before receiving fraudulent funds and later closed after transactions were completed. Officials are examining whether these accounts were allegedly used as part of a wider money laundering arrangement.

Digital Evidence and Financial Records Seized

During the searches, ED teams recovered documents, electronic devices, laptops, mobile phones, banking records, company-related documents and information connected with suspected shell companies.

Investigators also collected details related to cryptocurrency wallets and virtual digital assets to trace the movement of funds allegedly generated through cyber fraud.

According to the ED, assets worth around ₹3.35 crore in cryptocurrency and cash amounting to ₹14.50 lakh were seized during the operation. The agency also froze bank accounts containing more than ₹40 lakh.

Probe Focuses on Complete Money Trail

Officials said forensic analysis of digital devices, banking transactions and cryptocurrency records is underway to identify additional beneficiaries and determine the full extent of the alleged financial network.

Cybercrime experts have highlighted that online investment scams and fake employment frauds are increasingly using sophisticated laundering methods involving mule accounts, shell companies and digital currencies.

Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Prof. Triveni Singh said that effective investigation of such cases requires advanced digital forensics, blockchain analysis, financial intelligence and coordination between multiple enforcement agencies.

He added that tracking the movement of illegal funds quickly is crucial for improving recovery efforts and strengthening legal action against organised cyber fraud networks.

The ED has stated that the investigation is continuing and further action will be taken based on evidence collected during the probe. The accused will be subject to due legal process, and final determination of guilt will be made by the competent court.