A student from IIT Bombay fell victim to a cyber scam, losing Rs. 7.29 lakh after being coerced by fraudsters impersonating government officials, the police reported on Tuesday.
‘Digital arrest’ is an emerging cyber fraud technique where scammers impersonate law enforcement officials or government agency employees. Through intimidating audio or video calls, they coerce victims into making payments under the guise of legal penalties or procedural requirements.
How the Scam Unfolded
The incident began in July when the 25-year-old student received a call from an unknown number. The caller introduced themselves as a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) employee and falsely claimed that 17 complaints of illegal activity were registered against the student’s mobile number, according to an official from the Powai police station in Mumbai.
The caller threatened that the student’s number would be deactivated unless a no-objection certificate (NOC) was obtained from the police. To escalate the ruse, the caller transferred the conversation to someone posing as a Cyber Crime Branch official.
“A WhatsApp video call then showed a man dressed as a police officer. He demanded the victim’s Aadhaar number and alleged that he was involved in money laundering. He coerced the student into transferring Rs. 29,500 via unified payments interface (UPI),” the official said.
Escalation of Fraud
The next day, the scammers contacted the student again, threatening him with ‘digital arrest’ and prohibiting him from communicating with anyone. This time, they demanded more money. Intimidated, the student provided his bank account details, enabling the fraudsters to withdraw Rs. 7 lakh. After receiving the funds, they assured the student he was safe and would not face arrest.
The student grew suspicious after conducting an online search about the concept of ‘digital arrest.’ Realizing he had been scammed, he approached the police and lodged a complaint against the unidentified fraudsters. Investigations are underway to trace the culprits.
This incident highlights the need for increased awareness about emerging cyber scams and the tactics fraudsters use to exploit victims.