Himachal Pradesh: Retired Soldier Duped of ₹98 Lakh in 'Digital Arrest' Cyber Fraud

A retired soldier in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, was defrauded of nearly ₹98 lakh after cyber scammers subjected him to a 15-day 'digital arrest.' The fraudsters impersonated officials from the CBI, RBI, Telecom Department, and judiciary, intimidating the victim with threats of arrest for alleged involvement in a money laundering case linked to a fake SIM card. They used fraudulent video calls to simulate court proceedings, demanding the transfer of funds and pressuring him not to leave his home or communicate with anyone. Under intense psychological pressure, the former serviceman transferred money to various bank accounts and was also coerced into deleting digital evidence. A complaint has been filed at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Mandi, and an investigation is underway. Police have urged the public to be vigilant against such calls, clarifying that no government agency conducts 'digital arrests.'