Cyber Crime
Agra Woman Duped of Rs 13.42 Lakh in Shocking ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam
Agra: In a chilling case of cyber fraud, scammers posing as law enforcement officials allegedly tricked a young woman from Agra into believing she was involved in a criminal case, keeping her under “digital arrest” for four days and extorting Rs 13.42 lakh from her.
Elaborate Scam Unfolds
The victim, identified as Neha, a Noida-based private firm employee residing in Agra’s Shahganj area, received a call on February 8 from a man named Rahul, who claimed to be from a courier company. He falsely accused her of sending a drug-laden parcel to Bangkok, stating that it contained 500 grams of banned substances, five passports, three debit cards, a laptop, and $5,000 in cash. He warned that the incident could lead to a 10-year prison sentence.
When Neha denied any involvement, the caller insisted that her Aadhaar details had been misused in Uttarakhand and Goa, further deepening the deception.
Fake Officials and Fabricated Documents
To intensify the ruse, the fraudsters arranged a video call with a man posing as Anand Rao, an officer from Delhi’s Cyber Crime Cell. This individual sent her a forged Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) letter containing her name and Aadhaar details, making the accusations seem legitimate.
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Neha was then informed that she could be taken into 90-day custody but was given a chance to “prove her innocence” by self-isolating for two days while staying connected via Skype.
Extortion Under Fear of Arrest
The scammers demanded Rs 12.50 lakh as a “security deposit,” assuring her that the amount would be refunded once her name was cleared. Fearing legal trouble, Neha traveled from Noida to Agra on February 11 and transferred the money as instructed. The following day, they demanded an additional Rs 91,000, which she paid via Google Pay.
On February 13, the fraudsters claimed the “case” against her was closed and promised to return the money the next day. However, when the refund never arrived, Neha and her father approached the cyber police station.
Investigation Underway
Inspector Samay Singh confirmed that an FIR has been registered, and authorities have launched an investigation into the elaborate scam. The case highlights the growing menace of cyber fraud and the need for heightened awareness to prevent such financial and psychological exploitation.