Lucknow: The alarming trend of “digital arrest” cyber fraud continues to intensify in the city, with the latest case marking the 35th such incident reported in the past 16 months. In this instance, a 49-year-old pharmacist was virtually held under constant psychological pressure for nine days and duped of ₹7.20 lakh after being falsely accused of involvement in drug trafficking.
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Courier Call Sparks Drug Trafficking Threat
The victim, Shailendra Dhar Dwivedi, a resident of Indiranagar, stated in his complaint that he received a phone call on April 9. The caller introduced himself as a manager from a courier company based in Andheri East, Mumbai, claiming that a parcel sent in Dwivedi’s name to Bangkok contained 200 grams of MDMA drugs, five passports, three ATM cards, a laptop, and other suspicious items.
When the victim denied any knowledge of the parcel, the caller threatened him, stating that a case had already been registered with the Mumbai Crime Branch and that he would soon be contacted by senior investigating officials. Shortly afterward, he received a WhatsApp call from another व्यक्ति posing as a Crime Branch officer, who escalated the situation by claiming that officials from central agencies would be involved in the investigation.
Nine Days of Fear and Forced Compliance
According to the victim, he was repeatedly warned that he could be arrested and jailed immediately for alleged drug trafficking. The fraudsters insisted that his bank accounts would be scrutinised as part of the investigation and that he must cooperate fully. They also issued strict warnings that if he informed anyone or tried to act “smart,” he would face immediate arrest.
Under intense fear and psychological pressure, Dwivedi shared his bank account details. The fraudsters then began extracting money under the pretext of “verification” and “investigation procedures.” From April 9 to April 17, they maintained continuous contact through WhatsApp and Signal, ultimately transferring ₹7,20,500 from his accounts.
The fraud did not end there. The accused later demanded an additional ₹48,122, claiming it was required to “release” the blocked funds. This raised suspicion, prompting the victim to consult an acquaintance, who informed him that he had been targeted in a cyber scam. He then approached the police and filed a complaint.
35 Cases Reported in 16 Months
Data indicates that in 2025 alone, at least 24 cases of digital arrest fraud were reported in Lucknow. With the latest case, the number has risen to 35 in just 16 months, highlighting how rapidly this method is being adopted by cybercriminals. These scams typically rely on impersonation of law enforcement agencies and the creation of fear to psychologically manipulate victims into compliance.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh explained that such scams are entirely based on social engineering. “Fraudsters exploit fear, confusion, and authority pressure to break down a victim’s decision-making ability. Once that happens, the victim begins to follow instructions without questioning them,” he said.
No legitimate law enforcement agency conducts investigations or makes arrests via phone or video calls, nor do they ask individuals to transfer money during any inquiry. Any such demand should be treated as a clear red flag. Citizens are advised to immediately disconnect such calls and report them to local police or cybercrime helplines.
