A youth accused of carrying out a cyber fraud worth ₹38 lakh by threatening a businessman with a so-called “digital arrest” has been arrested from Azamgarh by the Chandigarh Police. The accused allegedly scared the victim by claiming he was involved in a money-laundering case and forced him to transfer the money online. A court has now granted transit remand till March 10, allowing Chandigarh Police to take the accused along for further investigation.
The case is linked to a complaint registered at a cyber police station in Chandigarh. According to the complaint, the businessman received a phone call on January 7, 2026. The caller claimed to be associated with an investigative agency and told the victim that his Aadhaar card had been used in a money-laundering case, which was allegedly under investigation in Mumbai.
Victim threatened with arrest
During the call, the fraudster warned the businessman that he could be arrested if he failed to cooperate with the supposed investigation. The caller repeatedly contacted the victim and issued instructions through phone calls and online communication, creating an atmosphere of fear and urgency.
Investigators later found that under the pretext of a “verification process,” the accused convinced the victim to transfer ₹38 lakh in multiple online transactions. Realising that he had been deceived, the businessman eventually filed a complaint with the cyber police.
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Technical investigation led to the accused
During the probe, cyber investigators analysed call records, bank transaction trails and other digital evidence. The technical investigation pointed towards Sparsh Singh, a resident of Kurmi Tola area in Azamgarh city, as a suspect in the cyber fraud.
After gathering sufficient evidence, a Chandigarh Police team travelled to Azamgarh and, with the assistance of local police, arrested the accused on Saturday.
Court grants transit remand
Following the arrest, the accused was produced before a court where Chandigarh Police sought transit remand to take him to Chandigarh for questioning and further investigation.
After hearing the request, the court allowed the transit remand from 5 pm on Saturday until 5 pm on March 10, enabling the police team to take the accused into custody for detailed interrogation.
Investigators are now expected to question the accused to determine whether he was acting alone or was part of a larger cyber fraud network.
‘Digital arrest’ emerging as a new cybercrime tactic
Cybersecurity experts say cases involving the so-called “digital arrest” scam have increased significantly in recent times. In this type of fraud, criminals impersonate police officers, investigators or government officials and contact victims through phone or video calls.
They falsely claim that the victim is linked to a serious crime and warn of immediate arrest if instructions are not followed. Under psychological pressure, victims are often persuaded to transfer large sums of money.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh says criminals rely heavily on social engineering in such scams. According to him, fraudsters first create panic and mental pressure and then push the victim to transfer money quickly before they have time to verify the claims.
Advisory for the public
Cybersecurity experts advise that no law-enforcement agency asks people to transfer money during an investigation through phone or video calls. People should remain calm in such situations and immediately contact the cyber helpline or local police if they receive suspicious calls.
Experts also stress the importance of not sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers and avoiding online transactions under pressure or threats. The investigation in the present case is ongoing as authorities attempt to identify other individuals who may be linked to the cyber fraud network.
