Photo: Gerd Altmann | Pixabay
A doctor in Bareilly fell victim to the ‘digital arrest’ scam where scammers posing as government officials manipulated him into compliance through fear and intimidation. Over a tense seven-hour period, they threatened him with false accusations, coerced him into revealing sensitive information, and came close to draining Rs. 50 lakh from his bank accounts. However, a swift intervention by his family and the Uttar Pradesh police ultimately thwarted the fraudsters and rescued the doctor from their clutches.
The ordeal started with an ominous phone call. The fraudsters, posing as government officials, accused the doctor of Aadhaar-linked fraudulent activities spanning multiple states. They threatened him with the ‘digital arrest’ and warned of immediate raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if he disconnected the call, reports The420.
Intimated by the threats, the doctor managed to alert his family discreetly. He scribbled a note that read, “I am trapped,” and passed it to his relatives without the scammers’ knowledge. Realising the gravity of the situation, his family acted swiftly and informed the police.
Guided by SP City Bareilly, the police quickly traced the doctor to a local hotel. Upon arrival, they discovered he had been coerced into bringing critical banking documents and was being held under the scammers’ control through continuous phone communication.

The fraudsters were extracting sensitive financial details, aiming to siphon off funds from three bank accounts totalling Rs. 50 lakh
Despite police efforts, the doctor, paralysed by fear of retaliation, initially refused to open the hotel room door. Then, the police collaborated with hotel staff to stage a fake fire alarm. The ruse succeeded, and the doctor opened the door, allowing officers to intervene. They confiscated his phone and terminated the video call with the fraudsters, breaking their hold.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that the scammers had already acquired sensitive details for the doctor’s bank accounts and were mere moments away from draining them. Their modus operandi involved fabricating allegations of financial fraud and leveraging fear of legal repercussions and public disgrace to manipulate their victim.
Digital arrest scams have become prevalent in India. Only recently, a Border Security Firm (BSF) inspector fell prey to this scam losing Rs. 71 lakh.
To combat the threat of a digital arrest scam, the Ministry of Home Affairs blocked more than six lakh mobile numbers and 709 applications.
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