Chandigarh Retiree Loses ₹25 Lakh in Sophisticated ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam

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In a disturbing incident highlighting the rise of cybercrime, a retired employee from Chandigarh's      was defrauded of ₹25 lakh by scammers posing as government and law enforcement officials. The incident, reported in Sector-50’s Progressive Society, is the third such case registered within just three days at Chandigarh’s Cybercrime Police Station.

fraudulent schemes
 fraudulent schemes

How the Scam Unfolded

The victim, Harbir Kaur, received a call on September 20 from a man claiming to be Rahul Sharma from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). He alleged that a mobile SIM card issued in her name was involved in criminal activities in Delhi and that a case had been filed by the Delhi Crime Branch.

To further legitimize the ruse, another caller, identifying himself as Rakesh Kumar, posed as a police officer and even made a video call from what appeared to be a police station. Using fear and intimidation, the scammers convinced Kaur that she needed to verify the legitimacy of her funds to avoid arrest.

Under stress, she shared financial details and was coerced into liquidating her fixed deposits. Over two days, she transferred ₹25 lakh across multiple accounts—₹10 lakh in the first transaction, followed by ₹7.5 lakh in two separate payments.

Police Advisory and Public Caution

Following the case, the Cybercrime Cell reiterated its warning about the growing trend of ‘digital arrest’ scams. These involve fraudsters pretending to be officials from law enforcement agencies, using video calls, fake badges, and urgent legal threats to manipulate victims.

Police have urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid responding to unknown calls, especially those demanding money or personal data under the pretext of legal action. Any suspicious communication should be immediately reported to the cybercrime helpline.

This incident underscores the need for digital literacy and public awareness in a time when criminals are exploiting fear and technology to trap unsuspecting citizens.

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