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Woman loses over Rs 10 lakh in digital arrest scam

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  • 3 min read

Photo: Gerd Altmann | Pixabay

A 43-year-old woman from Manjalpur, Gujarat, fell prey to an elaborate digital arrest cyber fraud scheme and lost over Rs 10 lakh after being tricked into believing she was under investigation for an alleged crime. The victim complained to the cybercrime police, and the investigations are underway.

According to the Times of India, the woman, who was at her workplace at the time, received a phone call from an individual claiming to represent a courier company. The caller informed her that a parcel in her name contained illegal materials.

When she denied having ordered any such package, she was told that an FIR had been registered against her. To add credibility to the ruse, the fraudster also offered her the option to file a complaint.

To further intimidate the victim, the call was transferred to another individual who introduced himself as a police inspector. This supposed officer arranged a video call, during which he demanded her identity documents. Exploiting her fear and confusion, the fraudster threatened her with legal action.

During the call, he displayed several debit cards and asked if any belonged to her. When she denied ownership, he pressured her into showing her own debit card on camera, instructing her not to disconnect the call. Under psychological duress, the woman complied.

Still pretending to be a law enforcement officer, the fraudster allowed her to leave her office but set a condition — she had to transfer Rs 10 lakh immediately. He falsely assured her that the amount was only a temporary security deposit and would be refunded after verification.

Trusting the scammer, she proceeded with the transaction. However, the call was disconnected as soon as the payment was completed, and she realised she had been defrauded.

Cases of digital arrests have been rising in India. In these scams, fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials to coerce victims into making payments. In the second week of January 2025, scam calls originating from Nepal targeted Indian victims. Here, the scammers impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to exploit victims’ fear of digital arrests.

In another case in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, scammers targeted a doctor but after a quick intervention by the police, the victim was rescued. Similarly, a Border Security Force (BSF) inspector in Gwalior fell prey to the ‘longest digital arrest’ ever recorded. The victim faced an ordeal for over a month and was defrauded of  â‚¹71 lakh.

To counter the menace of digital arrests, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) blocked six lakh mobile numbers and 799 apps connected with the scam.

To protect yourself from digital arrest scams, you must understand that government officials will never ask for payment under any circumstances. Additionally, if someone requests that you send a screenshot or show your credit or debit card during a video call, do not comply with that request and register an FIR with the police as soon as possible.

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Kumar Hemant

Kumar Hemant

Deputy Editor at Candid.Technology. Hemant writes at the intersection of tech and culture and has a keen interest in science, social issues and international relations. You can contact him here: kumarhemant@pm.me

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