HIGHLIGHTS

The incident initiated on February 1 when Chandrabhan Paliwal, a resident of Noida, received a call from an unknown number.

The caller instructed him to reach out to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and issued a warning that his SIM card was about to be blocked.

Shortly thereafter, he received another call from an individual claiming to be an officer in the Indian Police Service (IPS).

As cybercrime techniques evolve, the necessity for individuals to maintain vigilance has never been clearer. In a startling case, a family in Noida became ensnared in what is referred to as the ‘digital arrest’ scam. Over an agonizing span of five days, they were coerced into transferring over Rs 1 crore as they feared arrest from impostors masquerading as law enforcement officials.

The dreadful ordeal began when Chandrabhan Paliwal received a call from a mysterious number on February 1. During this call, the unidentified individual urged him to contact the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and warned that a blockage of his SIM card was imminent.

For additional context, consider this related news: A Delhi man lost Rs 11 lakh in a fraudulent work-from-home job scheme: Learn more about this incident.

To further escalate the situation, soon after the initial call, Paliwal received a follow-up communication from an individual who identified himself as an IPS officer from the Kolava Police Station in Mumbai. This so-called officer leveled accusations against Paliwal, claiming that he was entangled in a money laundering operation and that he had 24 active cases against him scattered across various jurisdictions.

The panic heightened as Paliwal’s wife and daughter also became victims of intimidating video calls from the scammers, who insisted that they needed to pay money to evade arrest.

Overwhelmed by fear and under severe duress, the family succumbed, ultimately transferring a staggering total of Rs 1.10 crore to the fraudsters within the next five days.

For further insight into similar scams, take a look at this article: A woman lost Rs 1.16 lakh following a counterfeit crime branch call: Discover how this scam unfolded.

Tips to Safeguard Against Such Scams

• Verify the caller’s identity: Always double-check claims by reaching out directly to the official organization.
• Do not disclose personal or financial details: Never reveal sensitive information like bank details or passwords over the phone.
• Maintain composure: If you receive a threatening call, take a moment to fact-check rather than act haphazardly out of fear.
• Report any suspicious calls: If you suspect you are being scammed, contact local law enforcement or cybercrime authorities without delay.

For more alarming stories of fraud, check this out: A man lost Rs 64,000 in a travel package scam: Here’s what transpired.