Lucknow retired doctor duped of Rs 1.55 crore in digital arrest

Lucknow: In a case of cyber fraud, a 75-year-old retired government doctor in Lucknow was allegedly digitally arrested and duped of Rs 1.55 crore after scammers posed as law enforcement officials.

According to a UNI report, the victim, a retired officer from the state health services, received a call on April 11 from a person claiming to be an inspector from the police headquarters. The caller alleged that her Aadhaar number had been used in illegal and terrorist activities.

The fraudsters further pressured her by posing as officials from agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and ATS, warning her of serious consequences. They instructed her to obtain a “clearance certificate” and strictly advised her not to disclose the matter to anyone.

Also Read:Elderly medical officer duped of Rs 2 Crore in digital arrest scam

Living alone and frightened by the threats, the victim complied with their instructions. Over a period of seven days, she was kept under what is often referred to as “digital arrest,” during which she transferred money in multiple transactions to accounts provided by the scammers.  

In total, she transferred Rs 1.55 crore in four installments. The fraudsters had assured her that the money would be returned after verification, but later cut off all contact.   

Upon realizing she had been deceived, the victim reported the matter to the police. Authorities have registered a case and initiated an investigation, tracing the transaction trail to identify the culprits. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in a shocking cyber fraud case, fraudsters allegedly siphoned off Rs 92.5 lakh from a doctor cum General Manager of a hospital in Baramati, Maharashtra, by hacking into two bank accounts on April 6. Following the incident, the victim lodged a complaint with the Baramati City Police. 

Also Read:75-year-old Pune doctor scammed of Rs 12.3 crore in share trading fraud