Cyber Fraud Alert: Meerut Woman Scientist Loses ₹8.30 Lakh in Digital Arrest Scam

A shocking cyber fraud case saw a Meerut woman scientist, Dr. Nisha Verma, lose ₹8.30 lakh after being digitally "arrested" for 27 hours by cybercriminals. The scientist, associated with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Modipuram, was threatened with false accusations of involvement in money laundering and child trafficking. The fraudsters coerced her into transferring 99% of her salary account's balance under the pretext of saving her and her son.

How the Scam Took Place

On December 10, Dr. Verma received a call from somebody who identified himself as an official of the telecom department who claimed suspicious activities were being routed through her mobile number. From there, she received an incoming video call from an individual dressed as an official of the cybercrime department. The persons fraudulently accused her for using her phone to launder money as well as human trafficking cases, pointing out the kidnappings of 17 kids. They threatened her with immediate arrest but gave her an option of "digital surveillance" instead.

Petifraid, Dr. Verma agreed to their terms, fearing for the safety of her son. Pressurized, she transferred ₹8.30 lakh into the account provided by the fraudsters.

Cases in Meerut

This is not an isolated incident. Meerut cybercriminals have already targeted people, such as a retired bank manager, who was arrested digitally, losing ₹1.73 crore. Meerut Police arrested a CDA official, threatening to be involved in organ trafficking, by taking away ₹15 lakh.

Police Action and Advisory

SP Crime Avneesh Kumar confirmed that an FIR has been filed, and efforts are underway to trace the perpetrators. The accounts used for the transfers have been frozen. Kumar emphasized that no government agency, including police or CBI, conducts digital arrests. He advised the public to immediately disconnect suspicious calls and inform law enforcement to avoid falling victim to such scams.