A 32-year-old man from Karol Bagh, Delhi, was defrauded of more than Rs 9 lakh by cybercriminals posing as officers from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The accused allegedly accused the victim of being linked to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack and forced him into transferring money under threat of arrest.
According to police, the incident occurred in August when the victim received calls from unknown numbers claiming Rs 50 lakh had been deposited in a bank account opened in his name in Kashmir. The callers, pretending to be ATS officials, instructed him to remain silent, citing the involvement of “influential persons.”
He was later connected to a person posing as the ATS chief, who directed him to transfer Rs 8.9 lakh through RTGS and Rs 77,000 via UPI for “fund verification.” When the scammers demanded an additional Rs4 lakh via a forged bail document, the victim refused, after which they cut all contact.
Delhi Police have registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched an investigation. Police sources said such “digital arrest” scams are on the rise, using fear, impersonation, and forged documents to extort money from unsuspecting citizens.
In 2025 alone, Delhi has reported cyber fraud losses approaching Rs 1,000 crore, with multiple incidents involving fake law enforcement impersonation. One of the most notable cases involved a 78-year-old retired banker who lost Rs 23 crore in a similar operation.
Authorities and experts have urged the public to remain cautious about unsolicited calls and to verify identities through official channels. The Reserve Bank of India’s zero-liability policy protects customers who promptly report unauthorised transactions. Similarly, banks have also started deploying AI-based Fraud Risk Intelligence (FRI) systems to detect suspicious activities in real time.
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Officials advise citizens never to share OTPs, passwords, or personal details and to report fraud attempts immediately via the 1930 helpline or cybercrime.gov.in. Law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies are also working to strengthen consumer protection and enhance digital awareness to tackle the growing threat of cybercrime in India.