A doctor in Lucknow was swindled out of Rs 2.81 crore after falling victim to a 'digital arrest' scam, where fraudsters posed as government officials, police reported.

Dr Ruchika Tandon, an associate professor at SGPGIMS Lucknow, received a call from a man who claimed to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). He told her that her mobile number was about to be deactivated due to 22 complaints alleging she had sent harassing messages. The caller then said a formal complaint had been filed against her and that she would soon receive a link to speak with a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer.

After connecting through the provided link, Dr. Tandon spoke with a man identifying himself as Rahul Gupta, allegedly a CBI officer. Gupta falsely claimed that her name had surfaced in a money laundering case, as well as in a child and human trafficking investigation, threatening that she would soon be arrested.

In a bid to avoid the arrest, the scammers suggested she undergo a 'digital arrest' via a video call, during which she should refrain from contacting anyone. They told her her accounts would be investigated, after which she would be freed from the charges.

Believing the ruse, Dr. Tandon complied, unknowingly sharing sensitive details of her five bank accounts with the fraudsters. Over the course of several days, they siphoned off Rs 2.81 crore from her accounts.

"They insisted I remain silent because it was a matter of national importance," Dr. Tandon explained.

Once she realized she had been duped, Dr. Tandon reported the incident to the police.

Speaking on the case, DCP East Shashank Singh stated, "On August 10, Dr Ruchika Tandon filed a written complaint with the cyber crime cell. She reported that from August 1 to August 8, she was subjected to a 'digital arrest' by cyber fraudsters, during which they transferred Rs 2.81 crore from her accounts."

Investigating Officer Ghulam clarified, "Legally, there is no concept of 'digital arrest.' However, scammers exploit fear by invoking the names of prominent investigative agencies. They make victims download video calling apps like Skype, appearing in police uniforms but concealing their faces. They gather information from victims and then claim they’ve been arrested, forbidding them from speaking to anyone."