Fraudsters impersonated government officials, threatening "digital arrest" to extort nearly Rs 15 lakh from a Delhi-based doctor.
Two suspects were arrested in Bengaluru and Kolkata; bank accounts were traced to multiple similar scams across India.
Authorities urge people to verify official claims and report suspicious activity to cybercrime helpline 1930.
In a recent incident of a digital arrest scam, a Delhi-based doctor fell prey to a sophisticated digital arrest scam, losing nearly Rs 15 lakh to fraudsters impersonating government officials. The Cyber Police (Central District) have since arrested two key suspects in separate operations in Bengaluru and Kolkata.
SurveyThe scam unfolded in late February, when the victim received a chilling call from an individual claiming to be a government official. He told the doctor that he was being “digitally arrested” over an alleged legal violation and manipulated him into transferring Rs 14,85,921 immediately to avoid any further legal consequences. The doctor wired the funds to bank accounts registered under “S.K. Rice Wholesaler & Trading,” and soon realised he’d been deceived.
He then filed a complaint to the Cyber Police Station, Central district under various IPC sections, including 170 (impersonation of a public servant), 384/388 (extortion), 420 (cheating), and 120B (criminal conspiracy). Acting on the complaint, the cyber unit traced the digital trail and arrested one of the accused, Mohammad Sahin Khan (30), near Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru, on July 2. As reported by PTI, Khan provided his bank account details, including ATM access and a cheque book, to facilitate the scam. He also confessed to receiving Rs 1.5 lakh as his share to carry out the fraud.
The second arrest was Buddhadev Hazara (31), an MBA graduate and former loan officer, taken into custody in Kolkata. Hazara has reportedly coordinated with an individual named “John” from Barrackpore to share details on the corporate accounts to facilitate such scams. Hazara admitted to receiving Rs 3 lakh as his share. Polica have also seized four mobile phones, two from each suspect, supposedly used in the scams.
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This is not the first digital scam, but at least ten other similar fraud complaints involving the same bank account network, spanning Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Delhi, have also been discovered.
People are urged to verify callers’ authenticity before making any transactions and report suspicious contacts to cybercrime cells or the national helpline 1930.
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Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
