Bathinda | December 25, 2025 | A 72-year-old retired bank employee from Punjab’s Moga district was cheated of ₹43 lakh in a sophisticated cyber fraud in which scammers impersonated officials from the Customs Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), police said on Thursday.
The victim, Darshan Singh, a retired employee of Punjab and Sind Bank, was allegedly kept under what cybercrime investigators describe as “digital arrest” for nearly a year, during which he was repeatedly threatened and coerced into transferring money to fraudsters posing as government officials.
An FIR has been registered at the Moga police station, and investigations are underway to trace the accused, who operated using multiple phone numbers and online platforms.
How the Fraud Began
According to the complaint, the fraud began in August 2024, when Singh received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as a Customs official from Delhi airport, claiming that a parcel originating from Mumbai had been intercepted.
The caller alleged that the parcel contained illegal drugs and forged passports, and that Singh’s mobile number had surfaced during the scanning process.
“The caller told me the matter was serious and could be handed over to the CBI if I didn’t cooperate,” Singh told police.
Shortly after, he received another call from a man claiming to be ‘Mr Yadav’, a senior CBI officer, who reinforced the allegations and warned him of imminent arrest if he failed to comply.
Threats, Fake Investigations and Digital Pressure
The fraudsters allegedly instructed Singh not to approach the local police, warning that doing so would “worsen the case” and lead to immediate legal action.
He was then subjected to repeated WhatsApp video calls, during which the accused posed as officials sitting in offices, creating an illusion of authenticity. Singh was asked to share details of:
- Bank accounts
- Fixed deposits
- Mutual funds
- Share market investments
- Property ownership
The callers claimed these details were required to verify whether any of his funds were linked to hawala transactions or drug money.
“They told me that unless everything was verified by the RBI, I could be arrested and my family would be implicated,” Singh said in his complaint.
Money Transferred in Multiple Installments
Under pressure, Singh transferred large sums of money over several months. Police said the total amount siphoned off was ₹43 lakh, sent through:
- RTGS transfers
- Mutual fund redemptions
- Bank account withdrawals
At one point, the fraudsters even sent him a forged notarised certificate, claiming his money had been “verified and cleared” by authorities. This temporarily reassured him.
“They told me the money would be returned after verification. I believed them because they spoke confidently and knew details about banks and procedures,” Singh told investigators.
Threats Involving Family Members
The situation escalated when the scammers learned that Singh’s son lives in Canada, while his wife and daughter reside in the UK.
Using this information, they allegedly threatened to implicate his family members in the so-called drug case if he failed to cooperate further.
Fearing for his family’s safety, Singh continued transferring money even while he was abroad in the UK between September and December 2024.
The final transaction of ₹1 lakh was made in December 2024 from one of his bank accounts in Moga.
Realisation and Police Complaint
The fraud came to light when the accused finally asked Singh to call 1930, the national cybercrime helpline number, claiming it was part of the “verification process”.
On contacting the helpline, Singh realised he had been duped.
He immediately approached the Moga police, following which an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act.
Police Investigation Underway
Police officials said they are tracing:
- Bank accounts used by the fraudsters
- IP addresses and phone numbers
- WhatsApp and digital payment trails
- Possible links to organised cybercrime networks
“The modus operandi matches several recent cyber fraud cases where victims are psychologically trapped using fear of law enforcement,” a senior police officer said.
Police Advisory to Citizens
Authorities have once again urged citizens to remain alert and remember that:
- No law enforcement agency conducts investigations over phone or video calls
- CBI or police never ask for money transfers
- No legal notice is served via WhatsApp
- Any such call should be reported immediately to 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in
A Growing Cyber Threat
Cybercrime officials say cases of “digital arrest” fraud are increasing rapidly across India, particularly targeting:
- Senior citizens
- Retired government employees
- Individuals with overseas family connections
The case serves as a stark reminder of how convincingly cybercriminals operate and the urgent need for public awareness.
