It all started when Nidhi, a resident of sector 50, received a call from an international number.
The person on the other end introduced himself as Ankit Kumar from the telecom department.
He claimed that her mobile number was linked to 17 FIRs and would soon be disconnected.
Imagine getting a call from someone claiming you’ve committed a crime and the next thing you know, you’re stuck on a video call, transferring your savings to prove your innocence. That’s exactly what happened to a woman from Noida, who recently lost more than Rs 14 lakh to scammers. Keep reading to know how the scam unfolded and how you can avoid falling for such frauds.
Back in January, Nidhi, a resident of sector 50, received a call from an international number. The person on the other end introduced himself as Ankit Kumar from the telecom department. He claimed that her mobile number was linked to 17 FIRs and would soon be disconnected.
In her complaint, Nidhi said that the number they mentioned was not even hers, reports TOI. However, the caller insisted it was registered under her name and offered to help her clear her name.
Also read: Pune man loses Rs 65,000 in credit card reward points scam: Here’s what happened
The scammer then claimed to connect her to a police officer at Mumbai’s Andheri police station. A man pretending to be a constable confirmed the false claims and promised further assistance. Soon, Nidhi was on a video call with a man who introduced himself as Pradip Sawant.
He showed his face briefly before turning off the camera, saying he was recording her statement. In the background, she heard sirens and someone declared she was now under “digital arrest”.
The scammers then accused her of drug use and being linked to a money laundering case involving Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
Fearing arrest and convinced she was in serious trouble, Nidhi followed their instructions and ended up transferring over Rs 14 lakh to their account. They stayed on the call with her until her mother noticed something was wrong and intervened.
Also read: Bengaluru couple loses Rs 4.7cr to digital arrest scam: Here’s what happened and how to stay safe
How to avoid falling for such scams
- Never trust calls from unknown or international numbers claiming to be officials.
- Don’t share personal details, bank information or documents over phone or video calls.
- Always verify such claims directly through official government websites or helplines.
- If you feel threatened or uncomfortable, hang up and report the number immediately.
- Real police officers will never ask for money or personal transfers over the phone.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
