LUCKNOW : Dr. Ruby Thomas, a resident of Port Blair and practicing doctor at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Lucknow, fell victim to an elaborate cyber scam, where fraudsters digitally detained her for five hours. Reflecting on the incident a day later, she described a terrifying ordeal that began with an arrest warrant and an ID card of a police officer being sent to her via WhatsApp.
The criminals initiated a video call with Dr. Thomas, during which they asked if anyone else was present in the room. On the call, she saw the official monogram of the Mumbai Police and heard a voice accusing her of involvement in the Naresh Goyal scam, as well as a recent shooting incident. The scammers demanded physical verification of her identity, which left the doctor petrified. In her fear and distress, she mentioned that she was on the verge of suicide. The scammers, after extracting Rs 90,000 from her, abruptly ended the call.
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Trusting Fake IDs and Arrest Warrants
Dr. Thomas recounted that the ID card sent over WhatsApp displayed the name of a cyber inspector, Pradeep Sawant, and featured the Mumbai Police monogram. Believing the ID to be authentic, she became increasingly anxious. Sensing her fear, the scammers escalated the situation by sending her an arrest warrant on what appeared to be official CBI letterhead. The warrant accused her of being linked to the Naresh Goyal scam, which had allegedly involved 247 fraudulent bank accounts. They claimed that her Aadhaar card had been used in the scam, and even included an Aadhaar number in the documents they sent her.
Threats of Execution for Non-Cooperation
The fraudulent arrest warrant imposed strict guidelines on Dr. Thomas, prohibiting her from leaving the country and threatening execution by hanging if she failed to cooperate. The scammers accused her of traveling to Mumbai, where she allegedly had an argument with Naresh Goyal during a shooting incident in which she was struck by a bullet. Despite her denial, they insisted they had video footage and call records to prove her involvement. When she refused their demand for a physical verification via video call, they threatened to send a female constable for in-person verification. After holding her in this digital hostage situation for five hours, the scammers coerced her into transferring Rs 90,000, after which they disconnected the call.
Fake IDs of Prominent Police Officials
Further investigation revealed that the scammers had used the identity of Pradeep Sawant, currently a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Mumbai, to create a fake ID card. On this fraudulent card, Sawant was falsely shown as an Inspector in the Cybercrime Unit. The fake arrest warrant also included the name of Akash Kulhari, an IPS officer currently serving in the Lucknow Commissionerate.
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A Similar Case of Extortion
- Dr. Satvika Rathore, was also targeted by the same group of cybercriminals. The scammers accused her of using her identity to open fake accounts at Canara Bank, ultimately extorting Rs 50,000 from her.
In a disturbing trend of cybercrime, several high-profile individuals, including doctors, retired military officials, and educators, have fallen prey to digital arrest scams, resulting in significant financial losses. These incidents reveal a new mode of operation where fraudsters pose as law enforcement or officials from various agencies to extort large sums of money from victims. Here are some of the notable cases.
- Case 1: Dr. Ruchika Tandon – Neurologist at PGI, Lucknow
Dr. Ruchika Tandon, a neurologist from Lucknow’s PGI, was digitally arrested by scammers who claimed that her bank account had been involved in illegal money laundering activities. Over two days, transactions totalling Rs 2.81 crores were made from her bank accounts. The fraudsters told her that her phone number and Aadhaar card had been linked to few accounts from which funds were transferred to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal and thus demanded that she should undergo either digital or physical verification. The immense pressure and detailed threats led to her financial exploitation. - Case 2: Retired Major General NK Dheer – Noida
Retired Major General NK Dheer from Noida was digitally arrested between August 10th and 14th. The scammers, posing as authorities from DHFL Courier service, informed him that a suspicious parcel in his name was booked from Mumbai to Taiwan. The parcel reportedly contained five passports, four bank credit cards, some clothing, 200 grams of MDMA (a controlled drug), and a laptop. He was transferred to another call, where he was prompted to file an online complaint. The fraudsters provided him with two options: physical or online verification. Under this pretense, they managed to extort Rs 2 crore from him.
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- Case 3: Professor Shreejata Dey – BITS Pilani, Rajasthan
Professor Shreejata Dey, from BITS Pilani, Rajasthan, endured a digital arrest for an alarming three months. During this time, scammers extracted Rs 7.67 crores from her where she obtained Rs 80 lakhs through a loan. The fraudsters posed as officers from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and claimed there had been numerous complaints against her mobile number, threatening to suspend her number within an hour. They also alleged that another number registered under her Aadhaar had been used to send illegal advertisements and harassing messages. A video call was initiated for verification, but only audio was heard. The scammers convinced her to transfer money under immense pressure. - Case 4: Retired Lecturer – Bhopal
A retired lecturer from Bhopal became the victim of a digital arrest, losing Rs 1.30 crores to the scammers. They posed as officers from the Customs Department and falsely accused him of using his phone number and Aadhaar to send a parcel to Cambodia containing illegal items. They also claimed he had several benami properties under his name, with a complaint filed against him regarding these properties. He, too, was given the option to choose between online or physical verification. The lecturer was digitally detained for seven days and eventually extorted for over a crore. - CASE 5: Senior officer Falls Victim to Cyber Fraud, Loses Rs 2.50 Lakh
Retired Punjab DGP A.P. Bhatnagar, 80, was duped of Rs 2.50 lakh by cybercriminals who posed as CBI officers. The scammers accused him of involvement in an international drug and human trafficking ring, using his Aadhaar and phone number. They claimed a parcel containing 16 fake passports, MDMA, and 56 ATM cards was sent from Delhi to Malaysia in his name. Frightened, Bhatnagar was digitally arrested for two hours and transferred money for “verification.” Gurugram’s Cyber Police are investigating the matter.
Modus Operandi: How Scammers Execute Digital Arrests
1. Language and Professionalism: The scammers communicate primarily in English, often sounding professional and well-versed in official procedures.
2. Fake ID Cards: During video calls, they present seemingly authentic ID cards of law enforcement officers or officials from legitimate agencies.
3. Agency Logos and Backgrounds: The video calls typically feature logos or backgrounds that resemble the offices of the police, cybercrime, or other governmental agencies, adding to the illusion of authenticity.
4. Courtroom Setup: In some cases, a fake courtroom scene is shown during the video calls, adding further pressure on the victim to comply with their demands.
5. Posing as High-Ranking Officials: The scammers often pretend to be senior officials from cybercrime units or other important agencies, as their targets are frequently senior citizens, retired professionals, or highly educated individuals who may be more likely to fall for such schemes.
6. Exploiting Legal Ignorance: The victims are unaware that no form of investigation or arrest can be legally conducted online or over a call in India. Scammers use this lack of knowledge to their advantage, manipulating the victims with fake legal threats and warnings of physical consequences.
Public Awareness: The Need for Vigilance
These cases highlight the importance of public awareness regarding such sophisticated scams. People should remain cautious of unsolicited calls or messages, especially those claiming to be from law enforcement or government agencies. It is crucial to know that no official investigation or arrest warrant can be served digitally, and all legal matters should be handled through proper physical channels.