Ghaziabad: A retired teacher from Vaishali, Archana Khare, lived through a shocking ordeal as she was digitally trapped by cybercriminals for 28 days — from April 1 to April 28. According to the police, the fraudsters posed as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), accusing her of mobile number misuse and threatening disconnection.
In a deeply manipulative turn, the call was escalated to others impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers, who accused Khare of being involved in hawala transactions using her Aadhaar-linked mobile number. The criminals claimed 100 bank accounts were opened in her name and that she was under suspicion.
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Victim Forced to Transfer ₹56 Lakh in Fear
Under the guise of investigation, the fake officials forced Khare to remain under constant surveillance via WhatsApp video calls — from 9:30 AM to 5:30 or 6 PM daily — especially when her husband was away at work. The criminals allegedly directed her to visit KG Marg in Delhi and transfer money from her savings, citing procedural requirements to clear her name.
Over the 28-day period, she was coerced into transferring ₹56 lakh to five separate domestic bank accounts. These accounts have now been identified, and Ghaziabad police have initiated action to freeze them.
Police Action Under New Criminal Laws
An FIR was registered on May 1 at the Ghaziabad cybercrime police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Information Technology Act. These include:
Section 318(4): Cheating
Section 340(2): Forgery of electronic documents
Section 204: Impersonating a public servant
Section 308(2): Extortion
Section 351(4): Criminal intimidation
Section 3(5): Common intention
IT Act provisions for cyber fraud
ACP (Crime) Ambuj Singh Yadav confirmed that investigation is underway and stressed the importance of public awareness. “Digital arrest is a new form of psychological coercion. Timely reporting saved the victim from further loss,” he stated.
The Ghaziabad case is a chilling reminder of how cybercriminals are now weaponizing fear, impersonation, and surveillance to exploit victims. Citizens are advised to verify official communications and report suspicious calls to authorities immediately.