Digital Arrest: A Modern Cybercrime Horror Story

A woman named Shristi Mishra was duped by cyber criminals into a 'digital arrest' scenario, resulting in a loss of over Rs 2.9 lakh. The perpetrators manipulated her over the phone, employing fear tactics to extract money. The incident prompted the police to launch an investigation.

In a shocking case of cybercrime, a local woman found herself under a 'digital arrest' imposed by cyber criminals for 48 harrowing hours. The criminals extorted over Rs 2.9 lakh, pushing the police to file an FIR on Tuesday, officials reported.

Additional SP Kalu Singh disclosed that resident Shristi Mishra approached the police on October 18. She recounted receiving a call on October 9 from an anonymous number, which instructed her to press 9, unwittingly transferring her call.

Claiming her phone number was involved in a Rs 38-lakh fraud, the caller informed Mishra that 10 percent of the defrauded amount had landed in her account. The woman was then coerced into believing she was under 'digital arrest', staying confined at home until she paid Rs 2,94,262. An inquiry under the IT Act is now underway.

(With inputs from agencies.)