Hyderabad: In an alarming case of cyber fraud in Hyderabad, a 67-year-old woman and her two daughters were subjected to a 17-day ordeal of ‘digital arrest,’ during which they were kept under constant digital surveillance by scammers posing as investigators from national agencies.
This elaborate ruse, which the fraudsters termed a “digital arrest,” led the family to transfer Rs 5.5 crore, only to realize they had been duped.
Digital arrest scam in Hyderabad: Ordeal began on November 13
The ordeal began on November 13 when Bharati Bai Agarwal, a Basheerbagh resident, received a call from a man claiming to be Rahul Kumar from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Alleging that her Aadhaar-linked phone number was implicated in money laundering and drug cases, the caller transferred her to two individuals posing as CBI officers, identified as Saurav Sharma and Ajay Gupta.
The supposed CBI officers directed Bharati and her daughters to connect with them via Skype, where they were informed of their “digital arrest.” They were told they were under constant video and audio surveillance. To intimidate them, the scammers displayed staged footage of individuals in handcuffs and showed forged documents bearing logos of reputed agencies like the CBI and RBI.
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Hyderabad woman transferred amount in multiple transactions
During the ‘digital arrest’, the fraudsters imposed strict rules, permitting the daughters of the Hyderabad woman to leave their house only for exams, after which they had to reconnect on Skype immediately. Under the pretext of verifying financial transactions, the family was coerced into sharing sensitive banking details and transferring Rs 5.5 crore in multiple transactions.
Bharati was instructed to provide fabricated explanations, such as purchasing property or engaging in charitable activities, when questioned by bank officials about the large transfers.
Revelation
The deception came to light on December 8 when Bharati visited the CBI office at Sultan Bazar to reclaim the money using the documents provided by the scammers. Officials confirmed the documents were fake, exposing the operation as a sophisticated scam. The family promptly filed a complaint with the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB).
An FIR has been registered against the ‘digital arrest’ scam in Hyderabad under Sections 66D of the IT Act, 2008, along with provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and banking regulations. Inspector R. Venkatesh of TGCSB is leading the investigation. Early findings suggest the involvement of an organized group specializing in impersonating personnel from national agencies. Efforts are underway to trace the money trail and apprehend the culprits.
