What appeared to be an official warning quickly turned into a costly deception, prompting cyber police in Bhubaneswar to track and arrest a suspect from Uttar Pradesh in a cross-state online fraud case involving nearly ₹30 lakh.
The arrest followed a complaint from a woman who reported being cheated by a caller posing as an official from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Investigators said the fraudster used fear and intimidation to pressure the victim into transferring money, claiming her SIM card was linked to criminal activity.
According to police, the victim received calls from an individual who introduced himself as a government regulator. She was allegedly told that her mobile number was under investigation, creating panic and confusion. Under sustained pressure, she transferred ₹30 lakh to 3 different bank accounts shared by the caller. The transactions were made over multiple days before she realised something was wrong and approached the cyber police.
Such cases fall under a growing category of “digital arrest” and impersonation scams, where fraudsters pretend to be officials from regulatory bodies or law enforcement agencies. Victims are often threatened with legal action and coerced into making urgent payments to so-called “safe” or “official” accounts.
After registering the complaint, Bhubaneswar cyber police used technical analysis and digital tracking to trace the suspect to Uttar Pradesh. The accused, identified as Gulipagi Chiranjib, was taken into custody based on electronic evidence linking him to the fraud.
During the arrest, police seized 2 mobile phones, 1 ATM card, 1 cheque book, 1 PAN card and 1 Aadhaar card. These materials are expected to help investigators trace the money trail and identify other individuals involved in the operation.
Police have registered a case under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to cheating and impersonation. Officials said efforts are underway to track the destination of the transferred funds, examine possible money laundering routes, and identify additional accounts or accomplices.
Cyber officials have again warned the public to stay alert against callers claiming to be government or regulatory officials. Citizens are advised not to share personal details, avoid transferring money under pressure, and report such incidents immediately to cyber authorities.
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