Bilaspur Police have arrested two more members of an interstate cybercrime gang accused of cheating an 82-year-old woman of ₹1.04 crore through a digital arrest scam. The latest arrests have taken the total number of accused held in the case to eight, while investigators continue to trace other suspected members and the movement of the stolen funds.
Victim Threatened During Two-Hour Video Call
According to police, the woman, a resident of Shantinagar near Mangla Chowk under the Civil Lines police station area, was targeted on April 20, 2026. The fraudsters initially contacted her through WhatsApp and later placed her on a video call.
During the call, the accused allegedly posed as officials of a central investigative agency and claimed that the woman was involved in a money laundering case and other serious offences. They threatened her with arrest and subjected her to sustained psychological pressure under the pretence of conducting an official investigation.
Police said the woman was kept on the video call for nearly two hours and 16 minutes. She was allegedly instructed not to speak to anyone and warned that disconnecting the call would result in her immediate arrest.
Fearing legal action, the victim transferred ₹1.04 crore into several bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. She later realised that she had been cheated and approached the police, prompting a cybercrime investigation.
Banking Trails Lead Police to Nagpur Suspects
Investigators examined bank transactions, mobile numbers, digital devices and other electronic evidence linked to the fraud. Six accused had previously been arrested in the case.
Based on fresh technical evidence, police arrested Rahul Prakash Kamdi, 38, and Gaurav Ramakant Mishra, 27, both residents of Nagpur in Maharashtra. The two accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
Police are now working to identify other members of the alleged network, trace the flow of the defrauded money and examine the gang’s wider financial links.
Digital arrest scams generally involve criminals posing as officials from agencies such as the police, Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate or Narcotics Control Bureau. Victims are falsely told that they are under investigation and are then threatened with arrest, imprisonment or seizure of property to force them into transferring money.
Police Urge Immediate Reporting of Suspicious Calls
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said no government agency arrests or detains citizens through phone or video calls, nor does it ask people to transfer money as part of an investigation.
He advised recipients of such calls to disconnect immediately and verify the claims directly with the concerned agency or local police.
Police have urged citizens not to trust callers who claim to represent government agencies and demand money while threatening arrest or legal action. Victims have been advised to report such incidents immediately through the National Cyber Helpline at 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Authorities said prompt reporting can help freeze transferred funds and improve the chances of recovery.
