A 78-year-old retired government official from Delhi lost over ₹2.19 crore to Cambodia-based cyber fraudsters who executed a textbook “digital arrest” scam, impersonating Lucknow Police and CBI officials. Delhi Police’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit arrested five money mules from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, recovering ₹1 crore cash from the prime accused.
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Cambodia Call Centre Trap Unravels
The shocking fraud began in November 2025 when the victim received a call from a fraudster posing as Sumit Mishra from Lucknow Police headquarters. Claiming two pending arrest warrants in a money laundering case, the caller exploited the senior citizen’s age and mobility limitations by creating a fake “digital arrest case number.”
A second scammer, identifying as Prem Kumar Gautam, escalated pressure by alleging Aadhaar misuse and demanding complete asset details, which the victim provided under duress. The Cambodia syndicate then placed the septuagenarian under round-the-clock WhatsApp video surveillance, confining him to his home and prohibiting contact with family or authorities.
Fake CBI Office and ‘Lawyer’ Pressure
Fraudsters deployed sophisticated psychological coercion, staging a fake CBI office setup with an individual posing as a lawyer to intensify intimidation. Between November 26 and December 4, the victim transferred ₹2,19,18,000 across multiple accounts under constant digital monitoring.
The IFSO unit’s technical surveillance traced digital footprints leading to the arrests. Dipesh Patidar (30) from Barwani, Madhya Pradesh—who ran an electronic repair shop—was nabbed with ₹1 crore cash recovery. Anshul Rathod (28), a wedding music system renter from the same area, was also detained.
Nationwide Mule Network Cracked
Further probe led to Jhansi’s Shyam Babu Gupta (36), owner of a plastic plates manufacturing unit; Raghvendra Verma (25) running a motorcycle accessories shop; and Devesh Singh (26), a first-year B.Tech student, apprehended at a Lucknow hotel. The quintet operated as money mules in the Cambodia-orchestrated digital arrest syndicate.
Classic ‘Digital Arrest’ Playbook Exposed
Police revealed the Cambodia scammers’ standard operating procedure: impersonating police, CBI, customs, and other agencies claiming registered cases against victims. Initial threats of arrest and penalties transitioned to “mistaken identity” narratives requiring asset verification.
Victims were coerced into transferring savings to “RBI-mandated verification accounts” with false promises of fund return. The IFSO unit’s rapid response prevented further dissipation of the ₹2.19 crore fraud amount.
Deputy Commissioner Vineet Kumar confirmed the investigation continues to dismantle the Cambodia-India nexus targeting vulnerable senior citizens through sophisticated digital imprisonment tactics.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
