Retired Court Clerk Duped of Lakhs in Agra, Confined Indoors for 3 Days to Force RTGS Transfer

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Cyber Fraudsters Use “Digital Arrest” Scam to Dupe Retired Court Clerk

A retired court clerk in Agra was recently targeted by cyber fraudsters who used a “digital arrest” scam to dupe him out of ₹12 lakh.

The Scam

The 68-year-old victim, Vinod Veer Singh, was placed under psychological confinement for three days and forced to transfer the money via RTGS.

The scam began when Singh received a call from an individual claiming to be involved in a probe related to the Pulwama terror attack.

The caller told Singh that he was required to cooperate with the investigation and instructed him not to speak to anyone or leave his house. Singh was also told that his phone was under surveillance and that any mistake could put his family in danger.

Over the next three days, Singh was subjected to repeated video calls from the fraudsters, who created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

They told him that he was implicated in a serious national security case and that he needed to transfer ₹12 lakh to a specified bank account as part of a “verification process” to clear his name.

The Investigation

The scam was only exposed when Singh’s son managed to speak with him after the transfer had been completed.

The family immediately approached the cyber crime police and filed a complaint.

Investigators are currently working to trace the origin of the calls and identify the beneficiary account where the funds were transferred.

Preliminary findings suggest that the money may have been routed through multiple mule accounts to obscure its final destination.

Cyber Experts Warn of “Digital Arrest” Scams

Cyber experts warn that “digital arrest” scams are becoming increasingly common, with fraudsters exploiting fear by invoking national security, money laundering, or legal proceedings.

In this type of scam, the fraudsters maintain constant contact with the victim through video calls and use authoritative language to isolate them psychologically.

The victim is often instructed not to speak to anyone or seek help, making it difficult for them to realize that they are being scammed.

Conclusion

The Agra police are currently investigating the case and are working to identify the perpetrators.

The incident highlights the need for increased awareness about cybercrime and the importance of verifying the authenticity of calls and messages before taking any action.