Digital Arrest for 2 Days for Retired UPPCL DGM
After a timely complaint, police froze ₹25 lakh after fraudsters pretended to be CBI officers and staged a fictitious money-laundering case.
Lucknow, U.P.: Om Prakash Narayan Mishra, an 80-year-old retired Deputy General Manager of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), was allegedly placed under “digital arrest” and confined to a room for two days in a row by cybercriminals posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers in a startling case of digital fraud. The con artists forced him to wire ₹47 lakh at this time, saying the funds were needed for an ongoing money-laundering investigation.
CBI Logo on WhatsApp Caller ID, followed by a Bogus Arrest Warrant
Mishra, a resident of Alambagh’s Srinagar neighborhood, claimed that the nightmare started on November 11 at midday when he got a WhatsApp contact from an unidentified number that had the CBI emblem as its profile picture. The caller claimed to be a CBI inspector and claimed that Mishra’s Aadhaar credentials had been used to register a bank account that was now connected to a money-laundering scheme.
The caller threatened to take quick legal action and sent him a fictitious arrest warrant within minutes. Mishra, who was clearly shaken, attempted to get clarification, but shortly after, he got a video call that showed a man in a police uniform standing inside what looked to be a police station. The man said that Mishra and his family would be arrested if he did not assist, and that the case had reached the Mumbai High Court.
Two Days of Video-Based Interrogation; the Fraudster Appears Dressed as a Judge
Under duress, the retired official did as instructed, locking himself in a room and not talking to anyone. He was repeatedly questioned via video call throughout the course of the following two days, November 11 and 12. The calls were then routed to a different person who pretended to be a judge and held a staged “hearing,” further enhancing the appearance of an actual court case.
The alleged CBI agent then informed Mishra that while he was “not the real culprit,” the agency needed his assistance in apprehending the real criminal. The fraudster said that the police had the accused’s account information and that Mishra needed to transfer ₹47 lakh, the sum of his savings, to a “CBI account,” which would be used as bait to apprehend the suspect.
Mishra transferred the full sum out of concern for his family and was persuaded by the meticulous staging. The fraudsters immediately ended the connection and turned off their phones.
Police Freeze ₹25 Lakh after a Prompt Complaint from a Family Member
Mishra felt nervous when the calls ceased and the money did not come back. After continually asking him, his son discovered that he was upset and found out about the incident. The family immediately called the 1930 National Cyber Helpline after realizing they had been tricked.
An FIR was filed at the Cyber Crime Police Station on November 13. According to the inspector, authorities were able to freeze ₹25 lakh before the crooks could withdraw cash thanks to the prompt tip. The remaining sum is being recovered.
How to Avoid Falling Prey to ‘Digital Arrest’ Scams?
As per Mohit Yadav, a renowned cybersecurity expert and a highly famous media panelist with more than 12 reputed media houses, the following advice will help you avoid being a victim of digital arrest scams:
- Watch out for audio/video calls or WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers posing as the CBI, police, or customs.
- Neither arrest warrants nor interrogations are carried out by any investigating agency via WhatsApp.
- Avoid isolating yourself or following directions to lock yourself in a room.
- Report any suspicious communications to the police right away.
Where to Report Cyber Fraud?
Moreover, to report cyber fraud, you can nicely go for the following steps:
- National Cyber Helpline: 1930
- cybercrime.gov.in
- Nearest Cyber Crime Police Station or local police authorities.
About The Author:
Yogesh Naager is a content marketer who specializes in the cybersecurity and B2B space. Besides writing for the News4Hackers blogs, he also writes for brands including Craw Security, Bytecode Security, and NASSCOM.
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