Himachal Pradesh is grappling with a sophisticated scam where fraudsters are impersonating officials from national investigative agencies to extort money from residents, prompting a stern warning from the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Tewari. The perpetrators, posing as officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and police, are leveraging fear tactics to coerce victims into making payments under the guise of legal proceedings.
Information was available with The Chenab Times detailing that these scams typically begin with unsolicited calls where the scammers accuse victims of financial impropriety, such as involvement in money laundering or using their bank accounts for illicit activities. The fraudsters then threaten immediate legal action and the concept of a “digital arrest” to pressure individuals into transferring funds to avoid perceived legal consequences.
Recent incidents highlight the modus operandi of these criminal networks. In one case, a woman from Palampur received a call from an individual claiming to be a Delhi Police official. The scammer asserted that her bank account was implicated in money laundering and threatened legal repercussions. Under duress, the woman transferred ₹15 lakh. She later became suspicious and reported the incident to the local police, leading to a zero FIR being registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Dharamsala.
A similarly distressing incident occurred in the Dharampur area of Mandi, where another woman fell victim to the scam, losing ₹15.5 lakh to individuals posing as Delhi Police officials. These cases underscore the increasing boldness and reach of cybercriminals targeting unsuspecting citizens across the state.
Furthermore, a retired Army officer was defrauded of ₹98 lakh earlier this year. The fraudsters in this instance posed as officials from the CBI and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). They informed the officer that a fake SIM card had been issued in his name and was allegedly being used for money laundering activities, threatening him with a “digital arrest” to instill panic and facilitate the fraudulent transaction.
DGP Ashok Tewari has emphatically stated that the concept of a “digital arrest” is nonexistent within the Indian legal framework. He clarified that esteemed agencies such as the ED and CBI, along with state police forces, do not conduct official proceedings or initiate contact with individuals through video calls for such matters. These agencies follow established legal protocols that do not involve the arbitrary threat of digital detention.
The DGP strongly advised the public to exercise extreme caution when receiving unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be law enforcement or investigative officials. He urged citizens to immediately terminate any such calls and to refrain from making any financial transactions or divulging personal information. Such proactive measures are crucial in preventing these scams from succeeding.
To aid victims and prevent further fraudulent activities, DGP Tewari encouraged anyone who has been duped or has received suspicious calls from individuals posing as officials to promptly report the incident to the authorities. The toll-free cybercrime helpline number 1930 has been provided for citizens to report such incidents and seek assistance. This dedicated helpline is a critical resource for reporting cybercrimes and initiating timely action against perpetrators.
The state police are actively working to raise public awareness about these evolving cyber threats and are enhancing their efforts to track down and apprehend the individuals involved in these fraudulent schemes. The warnings from the DGP are intended to equip residents with the knowledge to identify and resist such sophisticated attempts at financial fraud, thereby protecting them from becoming victims.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
