New Delhi: A retired Indian Railways employee in Delhi was allegedly duped of ₹30 lakh in a digital arrest scam after cyber fraudsters posing as officials of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) threatened to implicate him in a terror funding and money laundering case. The fraudsters allegedly kept the victim under continuous surveillance through phone calls and WhatsApp video calls before obtaining details of his bank accounts, fixed deposits and other assets and forcing him to transfer the money through RTGS.
According to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, Haryana resident Sunil Singla has been arrested in connection with the case. Investigators found that a bank account allegedly operated by him received ₹15 lakh of the cheated amount. Police said the same account was also linked to seven other cyber fraud cases registered in different States.
Victim Linked to Red Fort Blast Case
The Dwarka resident was allegedly contacted by fraudsters through phone calls and WhatsApp video calls. Claiming to be officials from the ATS, NIA and RBI, they told him that his identity had surfaced in a terror funding and money laundering investigation allegedly connected with the Red Fort blast in Delhi.
The fraudsters allegedly threatened him with arrest and sent forged documents through WhatsApp to make the operation appear genuine. These included purported confidentiality agreements, RBI confirmations and legalisation bonds.
The victim was kept engaged through repeated calls and video conferences, with the fraudsters allegedly creating an atmosphere of constant surveillance and official scrutiny. They then demanded information about his bank accounts, fixed deposits and other assets.
After obtaining the financial details, the accused allegedly pressured him to liquidate his funds and transfer the money to bank accounts controlled by the syndicate.
₹30 Lakh Transferred Through RTGS
According to the police, the victim transferred a total of ₹30 lakh through RTGS to bank accounts allegedly controlled by the cyber fraud network.
During the investigation, the Crime Branch analysed the banking trail, KYC records and digital evidence. Investigators found that ₹15 lakh of the cheated amount had been transferred to a bank account held in the name of M/s Shri Balaji Tractor.
Police alleged that the account was being operated by Sunil Singla. Further scrutiny revealed several suspicious high-value transactions and links to seven other cyber fraud cases registered across different States.
Investigators also found that Singla had previously been arrested in another cyber fraud case registered by the IFSO unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell.
₹12 Lakh Recovered So Far
The Crime Branch said ₹12 lakh of the amount allegedly cheated from the victim has so far been recovered or refunded.
Investigators are now examining the banking and digital trails to identify other members of the interstate cyber fraud network. Police are also probing whether additional bank accounts and entities were used to receive, layer or transfer money obtained through similar scams.
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The alleged involvement of Singla’s account in multiple cyber fraud cases has widened the scope of the investigation. Police are examining transaction records and other digital evidence to establish the role of the arrested accused and identify other potential beneficiaries.
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Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said digital arrest frauds typically begin by creating intense fear of arrest, legal action and social embarrassment in the victim’s mind. Fraudsters then use fake identities, fabricated documents and prolonged video calls to create the impression that the victim is facing an authentic government investigation.
He said victims should be particularly cautious if anyone claiming to represent a law enforcement or regulatory agency asks them to transfer money through a video call or demands that their entire savings be moved to another account for so-called verification.
According to Singh, the most important safeguard against such fraud is to avoid making financial decisions under pressure and independently verify any suspicious communication with the concerned government agency.
The Delhi Police investigation is continuing, with efforts under way to identify other accused persons, trace the remaining funds and establish the wider network allegedly involved in the digital arrest operation.
