Bareilly Doctor Rescued from 'Digital Arrest'; Police Foil ₹50 Lakh Scam

In a dramatic turn of events, the Bareilly Police successfully prevented a local physician, Dr. Najbul Hasan, from falling victim to a sophisticated cybercrime plot involving a staggering ₹50 lakh scam. The operation, carried out on Wednesday, not only saved the doctor’s hard-earned money but also highlighted the growing threat of “digital arrest” scams targeting unsuspecting individuals.
According to police reports, Dr. Hasan received a phone call earlier this week informing him that his Aadhaar card had allegedly been used in illegal hawala transactions. The scammers posed as officials from various investigative agencies and convinced him that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was on the lookout for him in connection with a major financial racket.
Fearing legal trouble, Dr. Hasan complied with the scammers’ instructions to leave his home quietly, taking along his passbook and other important documents. Under the guise of ensuring his “safety,” they directed him to check into a local hotel for three days and remain isolated. They instructed him not to answer any phone calls—even from family members—under the pretext that discussing the case could jeopardize the supposed “investigation.”
When Dr. Hasan stopped responding to calls, his worried family approached the Bareilly Police. Acting on the complaint, officers tracked the doctor’s phone location and discovered him confined in a hotel room—effectively “digitally arrested” by the scammers, who had kept him on edge for nearly seven hours. The cybercriminals were moments away from extracting the doctor’s bank details and the critical one-time password (OTP) that would have enabled them to siphon off ₹50 lakh.
थाना बारादरी, बरेली पुलिस द्वारा डाक्टर को 07 घण्टे डिजिटल अरेस्ट किये जाने की सूचना पर तत्काल एवं सटीक कार्यवाही कर साईबर अपराधियों से 50 लाख रूपये की धनराशि बचाने के संबंध में पुलिस अधीक्षक नगर , बरेली की बाइट।#UPPolice https://t.co/mib73kbpG4 pic.twitter.com/vQyORZqrMd
— Bareilly Police (@bareillypolice) January 12, 2025
“In such scams, victims are manipulated into believing they are under surveillance by law enforcement and that strict confidentiality is needed,” explained City Superintendent of Police, Manush Parik. “Thankfully, we received timely information, located Dr. Hasan, and disrupted the fraudsters’ plan before any funds were transferred.”
The police have launched a formal investigation to identify the perpetrators, urging residents to be extremely cautious of unsolicited phone calls or messages claiming involvement in serious crimes. Officers also reminded the public never to share sensitive financial information—especially OTPs—over the phone, emphasizing that no legitimate agency would demand such details.
With Dr. Hasan now safely reunited with his family and his finances secure, the Bareilly Police continue to caution citizens against emerging “digital arrest” scams, underscoring the importance of immediate police intervention when suspicious activity arises.