A female engineer fell prey to a cybercrime scheme, resulting in a loss of 1.1 million during an elaborate digital trap that spanned eight hours. Inspector Rita Yadav of the Noida Cyber Police Station revealed that the engineer, residing in Sector-34, received a call on November 13 from an individual posing as an officer of the Telephone Regulatory Authority of India. The caller claimed the engineer’s SIM card was purchased using her Aadhar card.
Adding to the distress, the caller alleged the engineer’s SIM card’s involvement in a money laundering case, asserting that Rs 2 crore had been withdrawn. The woman, understandably frightened, was then shown a simulated police station background in a video call.
The cybercriminal then transferred the call to the engineer, stating it was part of an ongoing investigation and connecting her through a video call. During this call, the fraudster displayed a fabricated police station background, making it appear real to the victim. The woman was kept under a simulated “digital arrest” for around eight hours, during which the cyber thugs coerced her into transferring Rs 11 lakh.
This incident is part of a growing trend where cybercriminals employ tactics like digital arrests to exploit victims. Inspector Rita Yadav emphasized that in such scenarios, individuals are forced to stay constantly connected through downloaded apps on their mobile phones, enduring continuous chatting, audio-video calls, and restricted logouts. This coercion, combined with intimidation, is often used to extract money from the victims.