Bheemashankar Guled, SP, Nandagad police station, said, "₹50 lakh has been transferred to different accounts from deceased accounts. We are yet to investigate this."
Published Mar 29, 2025 | 11:12 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 29, 2025 | 11:12 AM
Suicide. (Creative commons)
Synopsis: An elderly couple identified as Diago Santan Nazareth (82) and his wife Flaviana (79), have died by suicide on Thursday after falling prey to cyber fraud and losing ₹50 lakh. The caller alleged that Dorgjeron’s cell number was being used for illegal advertisements and threatened serious consequences if money was not transferred.
An elderly couple from Beedi village in Khanapur of Belagavi district died by suicide on Thursday, 28 March, after losing ₹50 lakh to cyber frauds who placed them under “digital arrest” – a scam perpetuated by cybercriminals.
According to the police, the deceased are recognised as Dorgjeron alias Diago Santan Nazareth (82) and his wife Flaviana (79).
Bheemashankar Guled, SP, Nandagad police station, said, “₹50 lakh has been transferred to different accounts from deceased accounts. We are yet to investigate this.”
A “digital arrest scam” is a type of cyber fraud where scammers falsely claim that a person’s online activities have led to legal consequences, such as being arrested or facing criminal charges. They often demand money to resolve the issue or avoid the supposed legal repercussions.
Divulging more information on how the couple died, he said, “Diago has injuries on his neck with a sickle and he was lying in a pool of blood. His wife was lying lifeless, and she might have consumed sedatives. The couple didn’t have children.”
The police found a suicide note in which the couple mentioned a person named Sumit Birra, who had called from Delhi, claiming to be a telecom official. The caller alleged that Dorgjeron’s cell number was being used for illegal advertisements and threatened serious consequences if money was not transferred.
The note read, “We are ending our lives as we don’t want to live at the mercy of someone.”
(If you need support or know someone who has suicidal thoughts, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist or contact the helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families. Tele-MANAS: 14416; Life Suicide Prevention: 7893078930; Arogya Vani: 104; Sahay Helpline: 080-25497777; Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584. The helpline number for reporting cyber fraud is 1930.)
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Rashmi Patil)
