Sonipat: In a growing wave of digital fraud cases, a new cyber scam has been exposed in Sonipat, once again raising serious concerns about online financial safety. Two youths from Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh have been arrested for allegedly duping a man of ₹4.49 lakh by impersonating a relative over a WhatsApp call and exploiting emotional vulnerability.
A WhatsApp Call That Ended in Financial Ruin
According to information, the victim, Omprakash, a resident of Garhi Brahmanan village in Sonipat district, Haryana, was contacted by the accused via WhatsApp. During the call, the fraudsters introduced themselves as a close relative and claimed that the wife of the caller was critically ill and urgently needed financial assistance. By creating a sense of emergency and emotional distress, they pressured the victim into transferring money in multiple transactions.
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To strengthen their deception, the accused also shared a fake bank statement showing a false credit of ₹16.15 lakh into the victim’s account. The document was entirely fabricated, but it succeeded in convincing the victim that the situation was genuine, leading him to continue transferring funds.
Investigations revealed that the entire operation was carefully planned using social engineering techniques. The fraudsters first built emotional trust, then reinforced credibility with forged banking documents, and finally executed multiple fund transfers across different accounts to complicate the tracing of the funds.
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Based on technical surveillance and mobile tracking, the investigation team traced the accused to the Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh. Acting on the inputs, both suspects were arrested. Two mobile phones used in the fraud were also recovered from their possession. Preliminary analysis suggests that these devices may contain additional digital evidence, including suspicious chats and transaction records.
Technical Surveillance Cracks the Case
During interrogation, it has emerged that the accused may not be limited to this single case and could be involved in similar cyber frauds across multiple states. Both have been sent to judicial custody, while further investigation is underway into their banking networks, digital transactions, and wider contact chain.
In this case, renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Professor Triveni Singh stated that modern cybercriminals increasingly rely on psychological manipulation rather than just technical hacking. He explained,
“Cyber criminals today are focusing more on human psychology than technology. They first establish trust, then create urgency, leaving victims with no time to think. Social engineering has become one of the biggest cyber threats, where people are deceived in the name of their own relationships.”
Bigger Cyber Network Under Scanner
Authorities believe that further investigation may uncover a larger network operating across multiple states and involved in similar patterns of WhatsApp-based impersonation fraud.
The incident serves as a strong reminder that cyber fraudsters are increasingly exploiting trust and emotional bonds as powerful tools. Experts advise that any unsolicited call or message demanding urgent money transfer should be treated with extreme caution, especially when it involves claims of emergencies involving relatives.
Investigating agencies are hopeful that more links in this fraud network will soon be exposed as the probe continues.
