The Ernakulam Rural cyber police have arrested a man in connection with an alleged virtual arrest scam in which an elderly man from Aluva was cheated of ₹1 crore.
The arrested is Salim, 43, a native of Aliparamba in Malappuram district. He is suspected to be a mule account holder who allegedly helped cyber fraudsters transact proceeds of their crime through his bank account, police sources said.
He was nabbed from his hometown after the police traced his bank account details. The man was allegedly duped by a scammer who contacted him over phone, claiming to be from a central investigation agency. He was made to believe that someone had opened a bank account in his name in Mumbai, and that ₹75 lakh involved in a human trafficking case was transferred to that account.
He was reportedly made to transfer ₹1.20 crore to the accounts provided by the scammer.
Salim had been remanded in judicial custody, the police said.
Published – February 04, 2026 10:41 pm IST
