Lucknow Doctor Loses Rs 2.8 Crores To ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam

On Wednesday, the Lucknow cyber crime branch filed a complaint after a doctor was swindled out of Rs 2.8 crores by scammers impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officials.

The victim, Ruchika Tandon, who was employed at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow, was held under ‘digital arrest’ by the scammers for six days. They falsely implicated her in a money laundering case, during which time the money was transferred to seven different accounts.

Upon realising she was being scammed, the victim filed an FIR with the Lucknow cyber crime branch. Following this, a case was registered, and the police have initiated an investigation.

Speaking to ANI, Raveena Tyagi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central, said, “On the complaint of the victim, a case has been registered in the cyber crime police station. She has been duped of about Rs 2.8 crore by threatening digital arrest. This fraud has been done by introducing themselves as officers of TRAI and CBI. In this, a case has been registered immediately and further action will be taken soon.”

Discussing ways to protect oneself from such incidents, Tyagi said, “I want to appeal to the public that if you receive a call from any unknown number and such a threat is found, please inform the nearest police station. Any kind of digital arrest is not valid, such a thing does not happen, so please be aware and stay safe.”