Trapped in Fear: Delhi Woman, Family ‘Digitally Arrested’ for 48 Hours, Lose Rs 8 Lakh in Shocking Scam

In a disturbing case of cybercrime, a Delhi woman and her family were virtually held hostage for 48 hours and duped out of Rs 8.10 lakh by scammers posing as officials from the Telecom Department, CBI, and Enforcement Directorate. The fraudsters used fear, forged documents, and video calls to extort money, pretending the woman was involved in a money laundering case.

According to Deputy Commissioner Raja Banthia of North District, the incident began on March 24, when the woman received a call claiming to be from Delhi’s Telecom Department, accusing her of using a fake SIM card. What followed was a terrifying series of video calls from WhatsApp numbers, with callers impersonating ED and CBI officers. They claimed she faced serious charges and would be arrested unless she paid.

To make the threat more convincing, the fraudsters sent her fake documents stamped with the names of the CBI, ED, and even the Supreme Court between March 5 and 7, creating a sense of urgency and panic. The family, including her daughter and father, were essentially trapped in their home during this period.

The North District Cyber Police launched a swift investigation, tracing the calls to areas like Zamrudpur, East of Kailash, and Greater Kailash. Using call records and financial tracking, a team arrested Raja Mandal (27), the main account holder, and agents Tushar Thapa (23) and Saurabh Tiwari (23) on March 31. Four mobile phones were also recovered.

Further raids in Chanakyapuri and R.K. Puram on March 3 led to the arrest of another accused, Anup Kumar Tiwari (23). He admitted to receiving around Rs 18 lakh in a bank account he opened under instructions from other criminals, earning commission for his role.

Deputy Commissioner Banthia confirmed that the scam was executed in a highly professional and methodical manner. While four individuals have been arrested, efforts are ongoing to track down remaining accomplices. The police also seized a Mahindra Thar abandoned by the accused during their escape.

This case highlights the growing threat of “digital arrest” scams, where fear is weaponized through technology to manipulate innocent people.

News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”