Doctor Scammed Out of 59 Lakhs in ‘Digital Arrest’ Fraud, Accused of Distributing Pornography

New Delhi:

A woman doctor from Noida has fallen victim to a scam, losing Rs 59 lakh after being tricked into a ‘digital arrest’ for 48 hours. This tactic is increasingly being used in the Delhi NCR region to deceive people.

Dr. Puja Goyal, a resident of Noida Sector 77, received a call on July 13 from someone claiming to be an official from the Telephone Regulatory Authority of India. The caller alleged that her phone was being used to circulate pornographic videos.

Despite her denial, the caller persuaded her to join a video call. She was threatened with severe consequences and told she was under digital arrest. After 48 hours of intense questioning, Dr. Goyal transferred Rs 59.54 lakh to a specified account. Realizing she had been scammed, she filed a police complaint on July 22 at the cyber crime cell in Noida Sector 36.

Vivek Ranjan Rai, Assistant Commissioner of Police (cyber crime), stated that they have the details of the account where the money was transferred and are in the process of verification. “Action will be taken,” he assured.

‘Digital arrest’ is becoming a favored tactic among scammers to intimidate and defraud individuals. In such scenarios, scammers often confine the victim to their home and pose as law enforcement officers, even sharing fake IDs to appear legitimate. For example, a 72-year-old woman from Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park area was duped into transferring Rs 83 lakh after being told her phone was involved in criminal activities and interrogated for over 12 hours.

The Noida police recently issued an advisory to caution the public about such scams. “In recent months, around ten such incidents have been reported, leading to registered FIRs and ongoing investigations,” the advisory noted.

The police stressed the importance of verifying suspicious calls, especially those made via WhatsApp or video calls, and advised checking the caller’s credentials through official channels.

“If a suspicious call claims legal action is being taken or requests personal or financial information, citizens should immediately report it to the nearest police station or cyber cell,” the advisory stated.