A woman from Dharampur in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district allegedly lost Rs 15.50 lakh after cyber fraudsters posed as police and government officials and kept her under a month-long “digital arrest”.
The fraudsters allegedly threatened her with legal action and claimed that her bank accounts and documents were linked to a criminal investigation. They also warned her against telling her family or approaching bank officials.
The woman reportedly received the first call on August 15 from a person claiming to be a Delhi Police official. She was then connected to another caller who introduced himself as a police officer.
During a video call, the woman allegedly saw a man dressed in a police uniform. This reportedly convinced her that the callers were genuine law-enforcement officials.
The fraudsters allegedly told her that she was involved in a serious case and that her financial records were being investigated. They also claimed that the matter was connected to the Reserve Bank of India and instructed her to transfer money as part of a supposed verification process.
According to the complaint, the scammers assured the woman that the money would be returned once the investigation and court formalities were completed.
Under pressure and fearing for the safety of her husband and son, the woman allegedly transferred her savings in two instalments, totalling Rs 15.50 lakh.
The callers reportedly continued contacting her and threatened her against revealing the matter to anyone. After spending more than a month under the alleged digital arrest, the woman eventually told her family about the incident.
Her family then approached the police, following which an FIR was registered at the Cyber Police Station in Mandi.
Police are now investigating the bank accounts used to receive the money and are examining the phone calls and other communications linked to the case. The identities of the suspected fraudsters are yet to be established.
The incident highlights how digital arrest scams rely on impersonation, intimidation and prolonged calls to prevent victims from seeking help. Fraudsters often pose as police officers, judges or officials from government and financial agencies before demanding money under the pretext of verification, investigation or legal proceedings.
The NM team advises people to remember that genuine law-enforcement agencies do not conduct arrests through video calls or demand money transfers to private bank accounts as part of an investigation.
