An 82-year-old retired woman professor in Bilaspur was held hostage inside her own home for a week by cyber fraudsters who accused her of terror funding, sent her fake Supreme Court and ED notices, threatened to arrest her son and grandson, and drained her lifetime savings of Rs 1.04 crore.
The Crime Unfolds
The crime came to light only when the gang, not content with the money already extorted, demanded another Rs 50 lakh. Terrified, the retired professor called her son in Mumbai and told him: 'Send the money, or I will go to jail.' Alarmed, he flew to Bilaspur and realised she had been trapped in a 'digital arrest' scam.
How It Started
Police said the victim, Rama Srivastava, received a WhatsApp video call on April 20 from an unknown number. The caller identified himself as 'Sanjay PSI' and accused her of links with a banned outfit and terrorist funding. Over a video call that lasted more than two hours, the fraudsters gathered details of her family, bank accounts, and finances. They then began tightening the psychological trap — sending forged bank statements, a fake debit card in her name, a fake Supreme Court warrant, and notices purportedly issued by the Enforcement Directorate and RBI, said police.
Psychological Pressure
The fraudsters told her that her phone was being monitored, police teams were stationed near her house, and any attempt to inform her family would lead to the arrest of her son and grandson in Mumbai. For seven days, she remained too frightened to step out or speak freely.
Financial Loss
Police official said between April 21 and April 24, she transferred Rs 1,04,80,000 through RTGS in four instalments — Rs 20.2 lakh on April 21, Rs 34.2 lakh on April 22, Rs 15.2 lakh on April 23, and Rs 35.2 lakh on April 24 — into accounts linked to ICICI Bank and City Union Bank. Her fixed deposits, PPF, and other savings were emptied.
Further Demand and Rescue
On April 27, the gang sent her another fake letter claiming that the ED warrant had been cancelled, but demanded Rs 50 lakh more to 'close' the case completely. With no money left, she called her son Prashant Srivastava, director of an HR consultancy in Mumbai. He rushed to Bilaspur, took her to the range cyber police station, and lodged a complaint.
Police Action
Range cyber police have registered a case under BNS sections relating to cheating and extortion, and provisions of the IT Act, and efforts are on to freeze the bank accounts where the money was transferred.
Wider Trend
Police said 'digital arrest' frauds are increasingly targeting senior citizens, retired employees, and businesspersons by weaponising fear, fake legal documents, and video surveillance. Bilaspur has in the past reported several such cases, including a Rs 57 lakh fraud in the Civil Lines area and another online fraud of Rs 1.31 crore.
Precautionary Advice
Police have urged people not to respond to unknown video calls from persons claiming to be police, CBI, ED, court, or RBI officials. 'No agency arrests or interrogates anyone on video call, and no court or investigating agency asks people to transfer money to prove innocence,' an officer said.
