A 46-year-old warehouse in-charge from Bengaluru was allegedly cheated of ₹3.2 lakh in a digital arrest cyber fraud after scammers impersonating officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) threatened him with arrest through WhatsApp video calls. The fraud was discovered only after the victim informed his company’s Managing Director (MD), who identified it as a cyber scam.
According to the police complaint, the incident took place on August 1, when the victim received multiple WhatsApp video calls from a person identifying himself as V. Kumar, claiming to be an NIA officer. The caller allegedly informed him that his name had surfaced in a serious investigation and that an arrest warrant had already been issued, pressuring him to follow instructions immediately to avoid arrest.
The fraudsters allegedly kept the victim under constant psychological pressure and directed him to transfer ₹3.2 lakh, claiming it was necessary to avoid legal action. Fearing arrest, the victim transferred the money to the bank account provided by the accused.
After receiving the funds, the scammers told the victim that the amount would be deposited with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for verification and returned within 24 hours, delaying suspicion.
The fraud came to light when the victim informed his company’s MD, who recognized it as a digital arrest scam. The victim then contacted the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) and was advised to file a formal police complaint.
The complaint also alleges that the fraudsters misused the MD’s identity and photograph to make the scam appear genuine. Investigators believe the accused may have gathered information about the company and its officials from social media or other publicly available sources.
Police have registered a case and are examining bank transactions, mobile numbers, WhatsApp call records, and other digital evidence to trace the flow of funds and identify those involved.
Prof. Triveni Singh, renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer, said that digital arrest scams rely on fear and psychological pressure to force victims into making immediate financial decisions. He emphasized that no government agency, including the NIA, CBI, ED, or police, asks individuals to transfer money during an investigation. He advised people to verify such claims independently and immediately report suspicious calls to the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the official cybercrime reporting portal.
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