Kanpur: A major digital arrest cyber fraud has come to light in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur, where cybercriminals allegedly impersonated officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and duped an elderly couple of ₹20 lakh. According to the complaint, the fraudsters falsely accused the couple of having links to terrorist activities and threatened that their daughter, who lives in the United States, would be arrested through Interpol. The accused allegedly kept the victims under a fake “digital arrest” for nearly three days, psychologically pressuring them into transferring a large sum of money. The scam came to light only after the fraudsters demanded additional payments. Following the complaint, Kakadeo Police registered a case and launched an investigation.
According to police, the complainant, Pratima Mangalani (76), a resident of Sarvodaya Nagar, stated that she received a phone call on July 16 from a person claiming to be a CBI officer. The caller allegedly informed her that her name had surfaced in an investigation related to a terrorist network and warned that she could face serious legal action. Under the pretext of an official investigation, the fraudsters allegedly instructed her and her husband, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Mangalani, to remain under constant monitoring and refrain from contacting anyone.
The complaint states that the cybercriminals maintained continuous contact through phone and video calls, placing the elderly couple under intense psychological pressure. They allegedly threatened that if the couple failed to cooperate, their daughter living in the United States would be arrested through Interpol. The fraudsters also claimed that the victims were linked to drug trafficking and terrorist activities, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Taking advantage of the panic, the accused allegedly demanded ₹22 lakh to resolve the matter.
Police said that, fearing legal consequences, the couple transferred ₹20 lakh through RTGS to the bank account specified by the fraudsters. Even after receiving the money, the accused allegedly continued communicating with the victims, claiming that the investigation was still underway and assuring them that the amount would be refunded once the verification process was completed.
According to the complaint, the fraud was exposed when the accused again contacted the couple on July 20 and demanded additional money. Repeated financial demands and inconsistent explanations raised suspicion, prompting the victims to discuss the matter with family members. Realising that they had fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, they immediately approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. Based on the complaint, Kakadeo Police registered an FIR and began examining bank accounts, mobile numbers, digital payment records, and other electronic evidence.
Investigators are now working to determine whether the bank account that received the funds belongs to a genuine account holder or was being used as a mule account by cybercriminals. Police are also analysing call detail records (CDRs), internet protocol (IP) logs, digital communications, and the financial trail to identify the individuals involved and establish the complete cyber fraud network. Officials said that if evidence points to the involvement of an organised interstate syndicate, additional law enforcement agencies may also be involved in the investigation.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said digital arrest scams rely entirely on psychological manipulation and social engineering, with criminals exploiting fear of law enforcement to pressure victims into making immediate financial decisions. He emphasised that no legitimate law enforcement agency conducts investigations or places citizens under “digital arrest” through video calls, nor does it ask people to transfer money to so-called “safe accounts.” He advised the public to immediately disconnect such calls, independently verify any claims through official channels, and promptly report suspicious incidents to the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, as early reporting significantly improves the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to identify and arrest the accused through technical analysis, digital evidence, and banking records. Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious of callers claiming to represent the police, CBI, ED, Interpol, or any other government agency and to never transfer money solely on the basis of such threats without independent verification.
