Kanpur. A 65-year-old doctor from Swaroop Nagar, Yogesh Chandra Mishra, was allegedly kept under digital arrest for three days by cyber fraudsters, who duped him of ₹48.20 lakh. The accused initially posed as officials of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and claimed that a mobile number linked to the doctor’s Aadhaar card had been used for criminal activities in Mumbai. The call was then allegedly transferred to people posing as officials of the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The doctor was threatened with arrest and imprisonment in a money-laundering case before being persuaded to transfer money in the name of verification.
A case has been registered at the cyber police station on the basis of the victim’s complaint against unidentified accused under relevant sections relating to cheating, forgery and the Information Technology Act. Police are investigating the mobile numbers, bank accounts, WhatsApp chats, forged documents and transaction trail involved in the case.
Proposal for Conducting Cyber Crisis Drill, Tabletop Exercise (TTEx) & CCMP Readiness Exercise
Call Started With a Fake Telecom Official
Doctor Yogesh Chandra Mishra received a call from an unknown number on September 10, 2026. The caller claimed to be a TRAI official and told him that a mobile number linked to his Aadhaar card had allegedly been used for criminal activities in Mumbai’s Tilak Nagar area. The caller described the matter as serious and threatened the doctor with legal action.
The call was then allegedly transferred to people posing as officials of the Mumbai Crime Branch and CBI. Different callers reportedly questioned the doctor while repeatedly telling him that his name had surfaced in a serious criminal investigation.
Forged Interpol and CBI Documents Sent on WhatsApp
The fraudsters allegedly sent documents purportedly linked to Interpol and the CBI to the doctor over WhatsApp. The documents were used to create fear of arrest and imprisonment in a money-laundering case. The accused also referred to the action involving Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
The fraudsters claimed that the doctor’s Aadhaar number and information about ₹40 lakh in his bank account had been found during an investigation. He was then instructed not to contact anyone and to follow the callers’ directions until the alleged investigation was completed.
Kept Inside His Room for Three Days
During the alleged digital arrest, the doctor was instructed to remain inside his room for around three days and not contact his family members. He was subjected to repeated questioning through phone and video calls. Under pressure created by threats of arrest and the forged documents, the doctor allegedly continued following the fraudsters’ instructions.
The accused then asked him to transfer money in the name of investigation and verification. They allegedly claimed that the amount would be deposited into an account supposedly meant for verification by the Reserve Bank of India and would be returned within 24 to 72 hours after the process was completed.
₹48.20 Lakh Transferred Through a Single RTGS Transaction
Following the instructions, the doctor transferred ₹48,20,500 from his SBI Swaroop Nagar account through RTGS to a Bank of India account specified by the fraudsters. Their instructions reportedly continued even after the transfer. The doctor subsequently became suspicious and contacted the police.
Cyber Inspector Abhay Singh said a case had been registered on the basis of the complaint and an investigation had begun. Police are tracing the subsequent movement of the money, the mobile numbers used by the accused and the WhatsApp conversations. Investigators are also trying to determine which accounts received the money and where it was transferred afterward.
Prof Triveni Singh: Fear and Isolation Are Key Tools in Digital Arrest Frauds
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof Triveni Singh has explained in the context of digital arrest scams that fraudsters commonly create fear of immediate legal action, prevent victims from speaking to others and then demand money. He has said that there is no legal concept of “digital arrest” and that anyone threatening arrest through a video call and demanding money should be treated with suspicion and the communication should be ended.
Do Not Transfer Money to People Claiming to Be Officials
If someone claiming to be a police officer, CBI official, Interpol representative, bank employee or government official threatens arrest and asks for a money transfer, people should remain alert. A demand to deposit money into a private bank account in the name of an investigation can be a warning sign of fraud.
In case of cyber fraud, victims should immediately report the matter by calling 1930 and inform their bank to request that the transaction be stopped or the funds be placed on hold. Call numbers, WhatsApp chats, screenshots, forged documents and bank transaction records should be preserved as evidence. People should never download suspicious applications, share their screens or disclose OTPs, PINs, passwords or other confidential banking information at the request of strangers. Most importantly, victims should not cut off contact with family members out of fear or transfer money under pressure from anyone claiming to be a government or law-enforcement official.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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