15 September,2025 10:00 PM IST | Kurukshetra | mid-day online correspondent
Kurukshetra Police have arrested a man for allegedly defrauding a retired army officer of over Rs 78 lakh in a “digital arrest” scam. Representational pic
Kurukshetra Police have arrested a man for allegedly defrauding a retired army officer of over Rs 78 lakh in a "digital arrest" scam, officers told news agency PTI on Monday.
Digital arrest is a cybercrime tactic where offenders confine victims to their homes and use fear tactics through audio or video calls, often impersonating law enforcement officials with artificial intelligence (AI)-generated voices or video technology.
The accused, identified as Anikant Bhat, is a resident of Deepnagar in Dehradun (Uttarakhand). He was reportedly operating under instructions from handlers based in Cambodia, police told PTI.
Superintendent of Police Nitish Aggarwal said the Cyber Crime Police Station in Kurukshetra made the arrest following a complaint from retired army officer Bal Krishna.
The ex-army personnel alleged that on August 24, he received a call from a woman posing as a bank employee, claiming his credit card had an outstanding bill of Rs 1 lakh. When he denied owning a credit card, she connected him to other "senior officials" who falsely accused him of involvement in money laundering via his Aadhaar card and threatened severe consequences unless he paid, reported PTI.
Out of fear, Krishna transferred Rs 29.85 lakh on August 28 and Rs 49 lakh more on September 1 into the accounts mentioned by the fraudsters. Upon realising the scam, he approached the police, who registered a case and launched an investigation.
Aggarwal said Bhat had received training from a Cambodian-based gang and used SIM bank devices (SIM boxes) to control multiple phone numbers simultaneously, making calls appear to originate from India while being routed internationally. The gang also installed surveillance cameras in Bhat's room to monitor his activities in real time.
Explaining the technology, Aggarwal said, "The SIM box functions like a mini-exchange and can hold up to 256 SIM cards. It enables fraudsters to make hundreds of calls simultaneously without using standard mobile phones, making detection extremely difficult."
He added that the SIM box, smuggled from Cambodia, played a crucial role in executing the scam.
Aggarwal urged the public to stay alert to such frauds and not be intimidated by callers claiming to be police or CBI officials. "Awareness is the best protection against cyber fraud," he emphasised, advising victims to inform family members, contact the nearest police station, or call the national cyber helpline.
(With PTI inputs)
