85-year-old man loses ₹84.5 lakh to ‘digital arrest’ scam

Lucknow: An 85-year-old retired treasury official was allegedly duped of Rs 84.5 lakh by fraudsters posing as senior police and Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) officials, who kept him under a prolonged “digital arrest” through fear and intimidation.

The victim, Badaruddin Ansari of Janakipuram Sector-G, told police that the ordeal began on March 7 when he received a call from a man claiming to be a senior inspector from the Lucknow Police. The caller alleged that Ansari’s name had surfaced in a money laundering case in Pune, Maharashtra.

The fraudsters alleged that an unauthorised account had been opened in his name at HDFC Bank for illegal transactions. They then sent forged documents via WhatsApp and Signal, purportedly issued by agencies such as the National Investigation Agency, the Supreme Court of India, and the Reserve Bank of India, to lend credibility to their narrative.

Over the next 27 days, multiple individuals posing as ATS officials maintained constant contact with Ansari through video and voice calls, warning him of immediate arrest if he disconnected or informed anyone. Investigators said the sustained psychological pressure effectively confined him to a state of “digital arrest.”

Fearing legal consequences, Ansari transferred Rs 84.5 lakh from his bank account to multiple accounts provided by the accused between March 11 and April 4. Deeply shaken, he approached authorities only 21 days after the final transaction.

Cyber cell inspector Brijesh Yadav said an FIR has been registered and police have managed to freeze Rs 27 lakh in accounts linked to the fraud. Technical teams are now tracing the digital trail to identify the culprits.

Police have issued an advisory reiterating that no law enforcement agency conducts arrests or interrogations via video calls or demands money to settle cases, urging citizens to remain vigilant against such scams.

Cyber expert and former IPS officer, Triveni Singh, said: “Pressure along with secrecy, money demand and scam threat are common tactics used by fraudsters in digital arrest cases. Scammers first create pressure by threatening immediate arrest or legal action to induce panic. They then enforce secrecy, instructing victims not to inform anyone and to stay on continuous calls, isolating them from outside advice.”

Finally, they demand money under the pretext of verification, settlement or clearing charges, he added.

GFX:

DIGITAL ARREST SCAM:

WAYS TO STAY SAFE

No agency arrests on video call — Police/CBI/ATS/ED/NIA never conduct arrests online.

Never transfer money to “clear your name” — it’s always a scam.

Ignore threats of immediate arrest — real cases follow legal notices, not panic calls.

Don’t trust caller IDs or uniforms on video — both can be faked.

Never share OTPs, bank details, Aadhaar, or passwords.

Don’t stay isolated on continuous calls — scammers use fear to control you.

Disconnect immediately if pressured or threatened.

Verify independently by contacting your nearest police station.

Report instantly on cyber helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.

Inform family/friends — talking breaks the scammer’s control.