Parents kept in ‘digital arrest’ for 10 hours; Class 8 son foils cyber fraud plan

Bareilly (The Uttam Hindu): A shocking case of cyber fraud under the guise of “digital arrest” has come to light from Bareilly. Fraudsters trapped a couple by threatening them with allegations of involvement in terrorist activities and kept them under “digital arrest” for nearly 10 hours. The criminals were close to stealing their lifetime savings, but their Class 8 son acted smartly and foiled the entire plan. Police officials have praised the child’s presence of mind.

Threat of terrorism used to trap victims

The incident took place in the Premnagar police station area. According to SP City Manush Pareek, trader Sanjay Saxena received a call from an unknown number. The caller posed as an officer from a major investigation agency and claimed that Sanjay’s mobile number was linked to terrorist activities and a major financial scam.

To create fear, the fraudster made a video call wearing a police uniform and even showed a fake arrest warrant. The couple was then forced to remain on continuous video call under the pretext of “digital arrest.”

Victims monitored constantly, bank details accessed

The fraudsters mentally pressured the couple to such an extent that they felt completely trapped. They were instructed not to leave the house and to perform all activities in front of the camera. They were even forced to keep the video call active while eating and resting.

During this time, the fraudsters managed to obtain sensitive bank account details from the couple and were about to withdraw money.

Son’s quick thinking saves the day

Meanwhile, their son Tanmay, a Class 8 student, became suspicious of the situation. He tried to convince his father that it was a scam, but his father, already frightened, did not listen.

Late at night, Tanmay showed courage and put the mobile phone on airplane mode, instantly cutting off contact with the fraudsters. This prevented any money from being withdrawn from the bank accounts.

The next morning, when the family approached the police and switched the phone back on, the fraudsters called again. This time, the police answered the call and responded firmly.

Police have advised the public not to panic during such video calls and never share bank details. They also urged people to immediately inform authorities in case of suspicious calls.