A 72‑year‑old retired advocate in Noida was ensnared in a chilling “digital arrest” scam earlier this month, coerced into transferring ₹3.29 crore to fraudsters posing as law enforcement and telecom officials. The cybercrime cell has since arrested three suspects connected to the racket.
Terror Through Screens and Calls
On June 10, the victim received a landline call—the caller claimed her Aadhaar and bank accounts were being used in serious crimes such as gambling, blackmail, and illegal weapons purchase. Under the threat of arrest, she was directed to another number and told to stay silent—even on WhatsApp‑video “interrogations” from individuals in police uniform—to avoid worsening her situation.
Over nine days (June 16–24), the fraudsters maintained what they called a “digital arrest,” forcing her to break fixed deposits and make RTGS transfers totalling ₹3.29 crore, promising the funds would be returned investigation. Only after confiding in her son did she realise the deception and approached the police on June 30.
Arrest of Three Accused, Partial Recovery
On July 4, Noida Cyber Crime authorities apprehended three suspects: Dupender Singh, Vinay Samaniya, and Mandeep Singh. Dupender and Vinay were arrested in Delhi, while Mandeep was taken into custody in Noida. Investigators froze approximately ₹17 lakh in connected bank accounts.
According to police, Dupender operated an apparel business before giving Vinay access to his bank account, earning 15% per transaction. Vinay then shared account access with others for a 25% commission, while Mandeep received ₹50,000 to funnel ₹71 lakh through his account. The trio is now facing charges of extortion, impersonation, cheating, and violations of the IT Act sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and IT Act.
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Growing Complexity of Social Engineering Scams
Experts believe the enduring psychological pressure of “digital arrests” enables scammers to extract life‑savings from victims—especially the elderly, who may assume official communications are genuine. Similar scams have duped victims in Noida previously, including a ₹14 lakh case where a woman was falsely linked to FIRs and targeted under duress. In another case, a 19‑year‑old posing as a cop coerced a victim into transferring ₹2.4 crore using identical techniques.
Investigation and Precautions
Police are reviewing call logs, banking trails, and video‑call metadata. Authorities urge the public to treat unsolicited calls claiming legal wrongdoing as fraudulent unless independently verified, and to confirm any official communication via verified helpline numbers. They also advise consulting family or trusted counsel when faced with high-pressure demands via phone or video.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change