Daijiworld Media Network – Lucknow

Lucknow, Apr 29: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, an 85-year-old man from Lucknow was allegedly duped of Rs 84.5 lakh by scammers posing as police and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officials, who kept him under a prolonged “digital arrest” through threats and intimidation.

The victim, Badruddin Ansari, a resident of Janakipuram’s Sector-G, approached cyber police after enduring weeks of psychological pressure and financial extortion.

According to police, the ordeal began on March 7 when Ansari received a call from a fraudster posing as a senior inspector from Lucknow police headquarters. The caller claimed Ansari’s name had surfaced in a money laundering case in Pune and alleged that a fake HDFC Bank account had been opened in his name for illegal transactions.

To make the claims appear credible, the fraudsters reportedly sent forged documents through WhatsApp and Signal carrying the names of agencies such as the NIA, Supreme Court and RBI. Several callers, introducing themselves as ATS officials, remained in constant contact with the elderly man, threatening arrest and legal action.

Fearing prosecution, Ansari allegedly transferred Rs 84.5 lakh to multiple bank accounts controlled by the scammers between March 11 and April 4.

The fraud came to light after the shaken victim approached cyber police. A case has been registered, and investigators have so far frozen Rs 27 lakh, while efforts are underway to trace and recover the remaining amount.

Police said the incident highlights the growing threat of so-called “digital arrest” scams, in which fraudsters exploit fear and impersonate authorities to coerce victims into parting with large sums of money.