Retired UPPCL Officer Loses ₹47 Lakh in ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam in Lucknow

Lucknow: An 80-year-old retired deputy general manager (DGM) of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) lost ₹47 lakh after falling victim to a “digital arrest” scam, police said on Monday.

The victim, Om Prakash Narayan Mishra, who lives in Shringar Nagar, Alambagh, approached the cyber cell after discovering that he had been cheated by callers posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials.

How the scam unfolded

According to the complaint, Mishra received a WhatsApp audio call on November 11 from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as a CBI officer and claimed that a bank account allegedly opened using Mishra’s Aadhaar number was linked to a money laundering case.

To create fear, the fraudsters soon sent him a fake arrest warrant. They then forced him to join a video call, where one man appeared in a police uniform inside what looked like a police station. Mishra was told that he and his family could be arrested if he did not cooperate.

The scammers instructed him to isolate himself in a room — a common tactic in digital arrest cases to keep victims from talking to anyone. For nearly two days, the gang kept him on continuous video calls, pretending to be police officers and later even a “judge” sitting in a courtroom set-up.

Threats and pressure

The fake judge told Mishra that he could prove his innocence by helping them “catch the real accused”. For this, he was asked to transfer ₹47 lakh to a bank account provided by the fraudsters. Fearing arrest and wanting to clear his name, Mishra transferred the money.

Soon after the transfer, the calls stopped, and the mobile numbers were switched off. When no refund came and he realised something was wrong, Mishra confided in his son, who immediately contacted the national cybercrime helpline 1930 and filed a complaint.

Investigation launched

“A case has been registered with the cyber crime police station. The investigation has started, and efforts are underway to trace the transactions,” said Brijesh Yadav, SHO of the Cyber Crime Police Station.

Police have again urged the public not to trust callers claiming to be from law enforcement and said no agency conducts arrests over phone or video calls. Anyone facing such threats should immediately call 1930.