Scam Alert: What is ‘Digital Arrest’ That Made Lucknow Professor Lose Rs 2.81 Crore to Cyber Thugs?

Lucknow: An associate professor at SGPGIMS Lucknow was duped of Rs 2.81 crore after she was 'digitally arrested' by cyber thugs for seven days.

The professor, identified as Ruchika Tandon, told she received a call from a scammer who identified himself as an official from TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India).

While speaking to news agency PTI, she told that the cyber fraud told him that several complaints were lodged with Mumbai Cyber Crime cell against her number for harassing messages being sent to people. She added that scammer told her that her phone would be switched off due to several complaints being registered against her number.

Tandon said, "I received a call in the morning, with the caller introducing himself from TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) and told me that my phone will be switched off as per instructions from the police, because several complaints were lodged with Mumbai Cyber Crime cell against my number for harassing messages being sent to people..."

While narrating her ordeal, the professor told that more people were involved in the scam as she was made to speak with fake IPS, CBI officers and judges. She was asked to not confide in anyone as it “was a matter of national importance.” She was told by the conmen that one of her accounts was linked with illegal activities, such as money laundering worth Rs 7 crore.

She was asked to declare her funds in bank accounts and was made to transfers money to other bank accounts which fraudsters said belonged to the government. She was deceived into believing that her money would be refunded if she was found innocent.  This way, she was duped of Rs 2.81 crore.

"They then made me talk to a so-called IPS officer, who told me that one of my bank accounts was linked with illegal activities, such as money laundering worth Rs 7 crore. He said he has received orders to arrest me immediately, and if I am unable to go to them, they will take me in 'digital custody'. They then made me speak to a CBI officer. They also asked me not to tell about it to anyone since this was a matter of national importance..."

After realising that she fell prey to a scam, she lodged an FIR at Cyber police station in Lucknow. This happens to be 20th incident of ‘digital arrest’ in the city.

What is a ‘Digital Arrest’? 

'Digital arrest' is the newest form of cyber scam in which targeted victims are made to stay on video calls for hours till they transfer all their money. So far, there is nothing called digital arrests in law.

This a deceptive tactic is used by cyber frauds to exploit people under the guise of law enforcement or investigative agencies.  It usually involves conmen reaching out to potential victims through phone calls or digital means, falsely claiming that there is a warrant for their arrest or that they are under investigation. These conmen then demand sensitive information, such as personal or financial details.