Lucknow: Cybercriminals have once again exposed the dark face of digital fraud by targeting a cancer patient and a retired military officer in two separate but similar cases involving “digital arrest” scams.
The fraudsters, posing as officers from agencies such as ATS and NIA, used threats of terror funding and sedition charges to mentally intimidate the victims and extract crores of rupees through prolonged video call coercion.
In the first case, a 76-year-old cancer patient, Dilip Narayan Pandey, and his wife were kept under what scammers called “digital arrest” for nearly 15 days, resulting in a fraud of ₹1.29 crore. In the second case, a retired Naib Subedar from the Army was similarly intimidated for four days and defrauded of ₹95 lakh.
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How the Scam Worked
According to the victims’ accounts, the scam began late on March 27 when the woman received a call on her mobile phone. The caller introduced himself as an officer from a security agency and claimed that during a recent operation in Mumbai, terrorists had been arrested, and the couple’s bank accounts had surfaced in a terror funding investigation.
The scammers then escalated the pressure using continuous video calls, ensuring constant surveillance and restricting the victims from contacting anyone.
The fraudsters created a climate of fear, warning that non-cooperation would lead to immediate arrest and charges of treason. Under this psychological pressure, the victims transferred a total of ₹1.29 crore by April 10 into multiple bank accounts provided by the scammers. Shockingly, even funds reserved for the victim’s medical treatment were drained in the process.
Army Veteran Also Defrauded
In the second case, the retired Army Naib Subedar was kept under continuous digital arrest for four days. He was coerced into sharing his banking details and was repeatedly threatened with being linked to terrorist activities if he failed to transfer money. The scammers ultimately defrauded him of ₹95 lakh.
This emerging form of cybercrime is highly structured and relies heavily on psychological manipulation. Fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officers, maintain continuous video surveillance, and create urgency through threats of arrest, leaving victims with no time to verify claims or think rationally.
Experts Warn of Social Engineering
Cyber security experts describe this as a sophisticated form of social engineering. According to Prof. Triveni Singh, a cybercrime expert and former IPS officer, “In such cases, criminals exploit the fear associated with law enforcement agencies. They create extreme psychological pressure, leaving victims unable to verify facts, which leads them to transfer money without hesitation.”
Victims reported that they were repeatedly told their bank accounts were under investigation and that every activity was being monitored. In one of the most distressing aspects of the scam, even funds kept aside for cancer treatment were transferred to fraudulent accounts.
Investigators believe that such scams are being operated through organized cybercrime networks, possibly involving call centers that systematically target vulnerable individuals, especially senior citizens and those with medical emergencies.
Experts warn that no legitimate agency demands money transfers or conducts investigations through video calls. Citizens are advised not to respond to such calls and to immediately report suspicious activity to cybercrime helplines.
The increasing number of such incidents has raised serious concerns, with elderly individuals and critically ill patients emerging as easy targets. Authorities suspect that these scams may have international links and are being run through coordinated digital networks.
Some of the defrauded funds have reportedly been frozen during the investigation process, but a large portion remains unrecovered. Cyber experts emphasize that strong international cooperation and public awareness are essential to dismantle such networks.
For now, vigilance remains the only effective defense against this rapidly evolving form of digital extortion.
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.
