Retired Soldier Scammed Out of Rs 98 Lakh in Himachal Pradesh Through 'Digital Arrest'

Cybercriminals in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, defrauded a retired soldier of approximately Rs 98 lakh by holding him in 'digital arrest' for 15 days. Posing as officials from the CBI, RBI, and courts, the scammers used fake video calls to simulate court proceedings and threatened arrest to coerce the victim into transferring funds. The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation. The victim was repeatedly harassed with phone and video calls between December 15 and December 30, being falsely accused of involvement in a money-laundering case linked to a fake SIM card. He was pressured to stay indoors and avoid contact, a tactic termed 'digital arrest.' The fraudsters even presented a fake judge on a video call, ordering the victim to deposit his assets and funds to avoid a lengthy prison sentence. In fear and under duress, the ex-soldier transferred about Rs 98 lakh to various bank accounts specified by the scammers. The criminals also deleted call logs, messages, and other digital evidence from his phone to prevent any leads. A complaint has been filed, and cyber police are actively investigating to apprehend the perpetrators. Police have urged the public to be wary of such calls from individuals claiming to be government officials and to remember that no government agency conducts 'digital arrests.'