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A 73-year-old retired bank employee from Ludhiana was allegedly cheated of ₹90 lakh after cybercriminals impersonating Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers kept him confined to his room under continuous video surveillance for six days.
The fraudsters accused the victim, identified as Gurmukh Singh of New Prem Nagar in Civil Lines, of involvement in illegal hawala transactions and threatened him with arrest. They allegedly forced him to remain isolated from his family while directing him to transfer his savings for a purported financial investigation.
Ludhiana Cybercrime Police registered an FIR against unidentified suspects on November 4, 2026, under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
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Fake Pune ATS Officer Accused Victim of Hawala Transactions
The fraud began on October 26, when Singh received a WhatsApp call from a man identifying himself as Vikram, an officer with the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad.
The caller claimed that investigators had arrested individuals involved in illegal hawala transactions through a private bank account in Lucknow.
He further alleged that the account had been opened using Singh’s identity documents, linking him to the purported criminal investigation.
When Singh expressed concern, the caller allegedly threatened him with imminent arrest before offering to help establish his innocence.
The fraudsters suggested that his identity documents might have been misused and told him that he would have to cooperate with their investigation to clear his name.
Believing the callers to be genuine law enforcement officials, Singh followed their instructions.
Retiree Kept Under Video Surveillance for Six Days
According to the complaint, the accused instructed Singh to remain inside his room while maintaining continuous video contact with them.
He was allegedly prohibited from leaving his house or discussing the supposed investigation with anyone, including members of his family.
The restrictions continued for six days, during which the callers maintained pressure on the elderly victim through repeated threats of arrest.
The fraudsters claimed that his savings were connected to the hawala investigation and needed to be frozen for verification.
They subsequently provided bank account numbers and directed him to transfer the money.
Singh told police that the callers assured him the funds would be returned after the source of the money had been verified.
The alleged digital arrest involved no legitimate detention or judicial process. Instead, the accused used impersonation, intimidation and prolonged video monitoring to control the victim’s actions.
Two Bank Transfers Leave Victim ₹90 Lakh Poorer
Under pressure from the callers, Singh transferred ₹89 lakh to an account provided by the accused on October 29.
He made another transfer of ₹1 lakh on October 31, taking the total amount sent to ₹90 lakh.
The transfers were allegedly made on the understanding that the money would be returned once the purported financial verification was completed.
Following the complaint, Ludhiana Cybercrime Police registered a case against unidentified suspects under Section 318(4) of the BNS.
The case concerns the alleged impersonation of counterterrorism officers and the use of fabricated hawala allegations to obtain money from an elderly resident.
The fraud illustrates how criminals exploit fear of arrest and misuse the identities of law enforcement agencies to pressure victims into transferring their savings.
The method also involved isolating the complainant from his family, preventing him from independently verifying the claims made by the callers.
Authorities have repeatedly cautioned that so-called digital arrest is not a legitimate police procedure. Anyone receiving such threats should independently verify the caller’s identity and report suspected cyber fraud through the national helpline, 1930, or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
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.
