Moradabad: Cyber fraudsters allegedly posing as police officers digitally arrested the wife of a retired deputy superintendent of police in Moradabad for three days and defrauded her of ₹14.41 lakh. The accused allegedly threatened to implicate her in a money laundering case and have her arrested. To convince her that they were genuine officials, the fraudsters appeared in police uniforms during video calls and continued to intimidate her in the name of an investigation.
The victim, Sushil Rai, a resident of Avantika Colony in Civil Lines, told cyber police that her husband, Hakim Rai, had retired as a deputy SP from the Uttar Pradesh Police and died in 2018.
On July 30, the woman received a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to be the station house officer of Bandra police station in Mumbai. The caller allegedly told her that her bank accounts had been used for money laundering. When she denied any knowledge of such activity, the caller allegedly threatened her with arrest and imprisonment.
Police Uniform Used to Create Fear
The woman initially did not take the first call seriously. However, the fraudsters contacted her again and used a video call during which one of them appeared in a police uniform. This reportedly convinced her that she was speaking to a genuine police officer.
The accused allegedly continued contacting her through calls and WhatsApp messages and instructed her not to discuss the matter with anyone. Under sustained pressure and fear of legal action, the woman did not inform her family members or relatives.
Between July 30 and August 1, she allegedly transferred ₹5 lakh from her bank account to accounts specified by the fraudsters. She subsequently broke a fixed deposit worth ₹9.41 lakh and transferred the money through three cheques to accounts provided by the accused.
According to the complaint, a total of ₹14.41 lakh was transferred to 11 different bank accounts.
Scam Discovered After 25 Days
The fraudsters allegedly assured the woman that her money would be returned once the purported investigation was completed. However, when the money was not returned even after around 25 days, she informed her son about the incident.
The family then realised that she had been targeted in a cyber fraud and approached the cyber police. Police have registered a case against unidentified persons and launched an investigation.
Investigators are examining the 11 bank accounts, mobile numbers, WhatsApp communications and video calls linked to the case. The focus is on identifying the fraudsters and tracing the money trail to its ultimate beneficiaries.
Fear Is the Biggest Weapon in Digital Arrest Scams
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said digital arrest scams rely heavily on psychological manipulation rather than sophisticated technology. Fraudsters impersonate police officers, investigation agencies or court officials and create fear of arrest and legal action. Victims are then isolated from their families and pressured into transferring money immediately.
According to Singh, genuine police or investigative agencies do not place people under arrest through video calls or instruct them to transfer money from their bank accounts as part of an investigation.
He advised people to immediately disconnect such calls and independently contact the concerned police station or an official government helpline instead of relying on the identity claimed by the caller.
Cyber Police Trace Digital and Financial Trail
Cyber police are now examining subsequent transactions in the 11 accounts, account holders and digital communications associated with the case. Investigators are also trying to establish whether the account holders formed part of a larger network and where the defrauded money was ultimately transferred.
Further action will depend on the digital evidence and banking records collected during the investigation. Police are particularly focused on identifying the individuals who appeared in uniform during the video calls, threatened the victim and coordinated the transfer of ₹14.41 lakh.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
