New Delhi/Jaipur: The Cyber Police of South-West Delhi have arrested three members of a fraud syndicate from Jaipur for allegedly duping a 75-year-old woman of ₹16 lakh (approximately $19,000) through a so-called “digital arrest” scam. Investigators suspect that the accused were operating in coordination with cyber criminals based in Cambodia and were arranging mule bank accounts to route the defrauded money.
The arrested accused have been identified as Yogendra Gurjar (Kotputli), Chhotu Lal Meena (Pratap Nagar, Jaipur) and Rakesh Meena (Sanganer, Jaipur). According to investigators, the trio targeted the elderly woman on December 7, 2025, placing her under continuous video surveillance for nearly two days and coercing her into transferring ₹16 lakh into bank accounts controlled by the syndicate.
Threatened in the Name of CBI
As per the complaint, the victim received a WhatsApp video call from a man posing as an inspector of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The caller allegedly threatened to implicate her son in a fabricated criminal case and warned of imminent arrest.
The fraudsters kept the woman under constant digital monitoring, instructing her not to disconnect the call and not to inform anyone. Under intense psychological pressure and fear, she transferred the money into bank accounts shared by the accused.
A case was subsequently registered at the cyber police station in Delhi. Technical surveillance, digital footprint analysis, SIM tracking and a detailed money trail investigation helped officers trace the transactions to accounts operated from Rajasthan.
FCRF Launches Flagship Certified Fraud Investigator (CFI) Program
Mule Account Network Exposed
Financial scrutiny revealed that Yogendra Gurjar was allegedly working as an agent who sourced bank accounts from economically vulnerable individuals in and around Kotputli. These accounts were then handed over to Chhotu Lal Meena and the alleged key handler, Rakesh Meena.
The police raided a rented accommodation in Pratap Nagar, Sanganer, and arrested Rakesh and Chhotu Lal. During the search, officers recovered around ₹1 lakh in cash, nine mobile phones, and passbooks and cheque books of 10 different bank accounts suspected to be used as mule accounts.
Investigators said the defrauded money was first credited into these accounts, withdrawn through ATMs or cheques, and then layered across multiple transactions to make the money trail difficult to detect.
Cambodia-Based Handlers Under Scanner
Preliminary findings indicate that the local accused may have been acting under instructions from cyber operators based in Cambodia. Officials suspect that international handlers communicated via encrypted messaging platforms such as Telegram, issuing operational instructions and coordinating fund transfers.
The possible foreign link is now being examined in detail, and central agencies may be involved to probe cross-border digital fraud networks.
Rise in ‘Digital Arrest’ Scams
In recent months, cases of “digital arrest” scams have seen a sharp rise across India. Fraudsters impersonate officials from agencies such as the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, police, or other central authorities. Victims are intimidated through video calls and told they are under investigation, often being forced to remain online while funds are transferred.
Cyber experts advise citizens never to trust claims of arrest or investigation made over phone or video calls. Law enforcement agencies do not conduct arrests or demand money digitally. In case of suspicion, victims should immediately call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or file a complaint on the official cybercrime reporting portal.
Police officials said further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and to establish the extent of the suspected international connections.
