Himachal Pradesh: A major case of cyber fraud in the name of “digital arrest” has come to light in Himachal Pradesh, in which a Shimla resident was cheated of ₹1 crore 18 lakh 48 thousand. According to a complaint registered at the Cyber Police Station, Shimla, the victim was contacted through phone calls and online platforms by fraudsters who impersonated officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The accused allegedly leveled serious charges against the victim, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and misuse of bank accounts. As per the complaint, the fraudsters used a highly planned strategy to exert intense psychological pressure, threatening immediate arrest, freezing of bank accounts, legal action, and social defamation if the victim failed to cooperate.
Under this atmosphere of fear, the victim was made to believe that he was under so-called “digital surveillance” or “digital arrest” and was strictly instructed not to share the matter with family members, friends, or any government agency. Due to continuous threats and intimidation, the victim transferred large sums of money to multiple bank accounts as directed by the fraudsters. These accounts were later found to be mule accounts, commonly used for carrying out cyber fraud.
Throughout the ordeal, the victim was falsely assured that the money was being deposited into secure government accounts for the purpose of investigation. In reality, the funds were siphoned off by cybercriminals, resulting in huge financial losses to the victim.
Following the exposure of the case, the Cyber Police issued a public warning for citizens. The police categorically stated that the CBI, police, Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, or any other law enforcement agency does not conduct arrests, investigations, or inquiries through WhatsApp calls, video calls, or phone calls. Officials clarified that no government officer ever demands money to settle a case, prevent arrest, or drop charges, and that there is no concept of “digital arrest” under Indian law.
The public has been cautioned that receiving sudden calls threatening implication in serious crimes, pressuring for immediate action, warning of account freezing or media exposure, instructing victims to remain isolated and not speak to anyone, or asking them to transfer money to so-called secure government accounts are clear indicators of cyber fraud. In many cases, fraudsters also use fake identity cards, forged official letters, or video calls with uniforms and government logos to gain the victim’s trust.
Cyber Police advised that in such situations, the most important step is not to panic or make hasty decisions. If such a call is received, individuals should immediately disconnect the call and contact the nearest police station or the official helpline numbers of the concerned department to verify the information. People should never transfer money under pressure or share OTPs, bank details, Aadhaar, PAN, or KYC-related information. It is also essential to immediately inform a trusted family member, friend, or legal advisor to break free from the fear created by fraudsters. Citizens have also been advised to avoid downloading unknown apps, sharing screens, or granting remote access to their phones.
