Prayagraj | January 1, 2026 A serious case of ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud has come to light in Prayagraj, where a retired school teacher narrowly escaped being cheated of nearly ₹2 crore. Cyber fraudsters allegedly threatened the woman with arrest in a money laundering case, keeping her under intense psychological pressure for three days and attempting to siphon off her lifetime savings. The fraud was foiled due to the alertness of bank officials and prompt intervention by the cybercrime police.
According to police officials, the victim resides in the Civil Lines area and has been living alone since her husband’s death, while her children work outside the city. On December 26, the fraudsters contacted her, claiming that her Aadhaar-linked bank accounts were allegedly being used for money laundering and that court orders had already been issued against her. By creating fear and confusion, they convinced her that immediate compliance with their instructions was the only way to avoid arrest.
Kept under ‘digital arrest’ for three days
Investigations revealed that the fraudsters maintained constant contact through repeated phone calls, instructing the woman not to speak to anyone and keeping her under continuous surveillance. Under the pretext of resolving the so-called legal case, she was psychologically prepared to transfer large sums of money from her accounts.
Police said the woman had approached a Punjab National Bank branch to initiate the process of breaking a fixed deposit worth ₹1.20 crore. She also attempted to transfer ₹90 lakh via RTGS from her Canara Bank account, taking the total intended transfer close to ₹2 crore.
Bank staff alert authorities in time
The case came to light when bank officials noticed the woman’s unusual nervousness and her insistence on urgently transferring funds to an unknown account. Frequent incoming calls during her visit to the branch further raised suspicion. Acting swiftly, bank officials informed the cybercrime police.
A cybercrime team immediately visited the woman’s residence, assessed the situation, spoke to neighbours and contacted her son over the phone. Investigators found that the account to which the money was to be transferred had been opened under suspicious circumstances on October 25. As a precautionary measure, the woman’s bank accounts were frozen, preventing any unauthorised transactions.
Digital arrest: a fear-driven cybercrime model
Commenting on the pattern, Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) warned that digital arrest has emerged as a rapidly expanding cybercrime model in India. According to the foundation, fraudsters exploit fear of law enforcement and judicial processes to isolate victims psychologically, ensuring they follow instructions without seeking independent advice.
FCRF noted that senior citizens, people living alone and those with limited digital literacy are particularly vulnerable to such scams. In many cases, victims do not even realise they are being defrauded until the money is about to be transferred.
‘No arrest happens over WhatsApp or video calls’
Former IPS officer and renowned cybercrime expert Triveni Singh said the Prayagraj case reflects classic indicators of a digital arrest scam.
“No investigating agency or court carries out arrests through phone calls, video calls or WhatsApp,” he said. “Cybercriminals rely on fear, urgency and secrecy to control victims. Often, it is at the bank counter—when large transfers are attempted—that such cases finally come to light.”
He emphasised that the vigilance of frontline bank staff frequently acts as the last line of defence against high-value cyber frauds.
Growing threat, awareness key to prevention
Cyber police officials said cases involving fake CBI or ED calls, money laundering notices and digital arrest threats have seen a sharp rise in recent months. Experts stress that combating this trend requires public awareness, real-time coordination between banks and law enforcement, and the habit of independent verification by citizens before acting on threatening calls.
The Prayagraj incident demonstrates that timely identification of warning signs and swift institutional response can prevent even multi-crore cyber frauds, underscoring the critical role of awareness and coordinated action in the digital age.
