A horrifying new episode of the digital arrest scam has surfaced in Kanpur, where a woman was forced into transferring Rs 6.66 lakh to fraudsters, who threatened her with immediate arrest by fabricating a connection to the Red Fort blast case.
Sunita Gaur, a local woman from Kanpur, received a series of frantic calls between November 9 and 11, shattering the routine of her daily life. The callers, pretending as officers from the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), claimed her mobile number had been traced to terrorist activities connected to the recent car bomb explosion near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort.
“Your phone is involved in a major terror plot,” they allegedly warned. To heighten the terror, they asserted that the woman and her entire family faced immediate arrest unless she cooperated fully with their investigation.
Kanpur woman falls prey to Digital Arrest scam
According to the report from News18, the fraudsters initiated video calls, where they wore what appeared to be official uniforms. The flashed forged documents on screen, demanding Gaur to remain ‘under digital arrest’ in her home. Isolated and petrified, she was instructed not to contact anyone, not even the police, unless she wanted to be branded as a suspect.
“They made it sound so real, like something out of the news,” Gaur recounted her horror. “I genuinely believed it was a legitimate probe. The threats to my family… I just transferred the money right away to prove my innocence.”
Under pressure, Gaur transferred Rs 6.66 lakh from her savings to accounts dictated by the scammers. It was only after the calls abruptly ceased that she mustered the courage to approach the authorities.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The Kanpur cybercrime unit is investigating the matter and attempting to trace the bank accounts and phone numbers used by the suspects.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anjali Vishwakarma confirmed the incident and said such scams have increased after the Red Fort blast. “Fraudsters are exploiting public concern over terrorism cases. No law enforcement agency ever asks for money over phone or video calls to resolve a case,” she said.
How to stay safe from such scams
The Police have advised citizens to immediately report any such calls to the cybercrime helpline 1930 or the nearest police station. Citizens are also urged to verify claims through official channels.
Two other Kanpur residents received similar calls during the same period but did not transfer money after growing suspicious and contacting the police directly.
