A 73-year-old man from Noida, Chander Bhan Paliwal, and his family were subjected to a five-day ordeal in a sophisticated cyber scam that cost them over Rs 1 crore. The scam began on February 1, when Paliwal received a threatening call from someone claiming to be from Mumbai’s Colaba police station. The caller instructed him to urgently contact the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), warning that his phone would be deactivated within hours.
Cyber Arrest Scam: A Family’s Ordeal and Financial Loss
For the next five days, Paliwal, his wife, and daughter were subjected to a new form of fraud known as “cyber arrest.” The fraudsters, pretending to be police officers and CBI agents, made numerous video calls, accusing the family of money laundering. They claimed that Paliwal’s Aadhaar card had been misused to open a fake bank account and threatened to arrest his family unless they paid a substantial amount.
Under the pretense of an investigation, the fraudsters tricked Paliwal into sharing personal information, including his bank account details and Aadhaar card. On February 3, they orchestrated a video call from a fake CBI court, falsely informing Paliwal that his bail had been denied and his family would be arrested. In a panic to protect themselves, the family ended up transferring Rs 1.1 crore in the following days.
Exposing the Cybercrime: A Family’s Rescue and the Fight Against Digital Fraud
The ordeal ended when the branch manager of their bank became suspicious and advised them to seek help. Paliwal approached Noida Cyber Police on February 6, and an FIR was registered for extortion and cheating. The fraudsters had targeted an elderly family with limited social connections, exploiting their vulnerability. Police are continuing their investigation into this cybercrime, which highlights the growing threat of digital fraud.
