Cyber Crime
Female Professor Defrauded of Rs75 Lakh in Parcel Scam, Kept Under Digital Arrest for 10 Days by Fake ED-CBI Officials
A retired professor from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has reportedly fallen victim to a cyber fraud, losing over Rs75 lakhs to scammers posing as officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). According to police, the fraudsters placed her under a “digital arrest” for 10 days, coercing her into making large payments to avoid imprisonment.
The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged on Friday by the victim, Qamar Jahan, following which the police swiftly alerted the relevant banks. The investigation revealed that the funds had been transferred across 21 different bank accounts. However, timely intervention by the authorities helped block transactions worth Rs13 lakhs.
Cyber police inspector VD Panday, who is handling the case, explained that the victim was kept in a state of “digital arrest” for over 10 days. During this period, the scammers intimidated her into believing she would face immediate arrest unless she paid significant sums of money.
This new type of cyber fraud involves criminals impersonating law enforcement officials—such as those from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Customs, or ED—who falsely accuse victims of being involved in illegal activities, such as money laundering or the trafficking of banned substances through international parcels. They make threatening video calls, demanding money to avoid arrest.
Jahan reported that the ordeal began on September 28, when she received a call from someone pretending to be an ED official. The scammer falsely accused her of suspicious financial transactions tied to a money laundering case. The fraudsters then instructed her to deposit money into specified bank accounts to clear her name and prevent her arrest. Fearing legal repercussions, she complied and transferred over Rs75 lakhs.
It wasn’t until two days ago that Jahan realized she had been defrauded, prompting her to file a complaint with the police.
In recent weeks, multiple cases of similar “digital arrest” frauds have surfaced in the region. Authorities have since issued public warnings, clarifying that there is no legal provision for such an arrest and urging people to be cautious of these scams.