A student from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay fell victim to a cyber scam known as ‘digital arrest’ and lost a significant amount of ₹7.29 lakh to a fraudster pretending to be a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) employee. This incident, which took place in July of this year, was reported to the Powai police recently. The rise in cases of ‘digital arrest’ has raised concerns about the increasing threat of cyber fraud.
The 25-year-old student received a call from an unknown number where the caller claimed to be a TRAI official and informed him about 17 complaints lodged against his mobile number for illegal activities. The caller threatened to deactivate the student’s number unless he obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the police. The conversation was then transferred to a supposed “Cyber Crime Branch” official during a WhatsApp video call, further convincing the victim of the legitimacy of the call. This fake official accused the student of money laundering and demanded his Aadhaar number. The victim was coerced into making an initial payment of ₹29,500 through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to avoid arrest.
As the pressure mounted, the fraudster claimed that the victim was under “digital arrest,” a term used by cybercriminals to extort money from victims under the threat of legal action. The student was warned of severe consequences and was forbidden from contacting anyone during this so-called “arrest.” The scam continued the next day with the fraudster demanding a larger sum. Feeling trapped, the student provided his bank account details, allowing the scammers to steal an additional ₹7 lakh. Once the money was received, the scammers assured the victim that the “arrest” had been lifted and that he was no longer in danger.
After conducting an online search about “digital arrest,” the student realized he had been scammed and reported the incident to the Powai police. An investigation has been launched to track down the perpetrators, who are currently unidentified. The Powai police are cautioning the public to be wary of similar scams that are becoming more common in the digital era.
In light of this unfortunate incident, it is crucial for individuals to be vigilant and skeptical of any unsolicited calls or messages demanding personal information or payments. It is advisable to verify the authenticity of such requests with the relevant authorities before taking any action. By staying informed and cautious, people can protect themselves from falling prey to cyber scams like the one that targeted the IIT Bombay student.
