Cyber Crime
Death In Digital Arrest : Mother Dies Of Heart Attack After Cyber Criminals, Impersonating Police, Demand Rs 1 Lakh for Daughter’s Fake Release from a Sex Racket
AGRA: A government teacher in Agra fell victim to a cyber scam, which led to her tragic death due to a heart attack. She was kept on call for four hours, during which she was mentally harassed. Her death has left her family devastated.
Details of the incident:
In a heartbreaking incident, Malti Verma, an assistant teacher, lost her life after falling into a cybercriminal’s trap. A scammer impersonating a police officer called her and falsely informed her that her daughter had been arrested in a sexual scandal and was about to be jailed. The scammer demanded Rs 1 lakh to “save” her daughter, giving her just 15 minutes to transfer the money. At the time, Verma was at school.
For four excruciating hours, the cybercriminals held her in what can be described as a “digital arrest,” feeding her false information and threats. They even promised to let her speak to her daughter, during which she heard a voice pleading, “Mom, save me.” This caused Verma immense distress. When she reached home, her condition deteriorated, eventually leading to her death.
Malti Verma, a resident of Subhash Nagar, Albatia Road, worked as an assistant teacher at the Government Girls Junior High School in Achnera. On September 30, around noon, she received a WhatsApp call from a number displaying a photo of a police officer in uniform with the name “Captain Vijay Kumar.”
ALSO READ: Join The Movement: Registration Open for ‘Cyber Safe Uttar Pradesh’ Event by FCRF on October 17
Her son, Deepanshu Rajput, recounted that the scammer called his mother multiple times, insisting that her daughter was involved in a scandal and that the only way to free her was to transfer ₹1 lakh immediately. Terrified, Verma called her son, asking him to send the money right away. Struggling to speak due to the emotional shock, she managed to give him a phone number, which started with the code +92, indicating it was from a foreign country.
Deepanshu, sensing something was wrong, called his sister on video call to verify her whereabouts. His sister, who is pursuing a B.Pharm. degree, was safe at college. He informed his mother, trying to reassure her that everything was fine. However, the continuous harassment and fear instilled by the scammer’s calls left her in a state of panic.
When Verma arrived home later that afternoon, she was visibly shaken and began to sweat profusely. Her condition worsened, despite attempts to calm her down with water and cold drinks. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.
This tragic case highlights the severe emotional and psychological impact cybercrime can have, claiming a life even without physical harm.