In a departure from the common narrative that police typically register complaints only after cyber frauds are completed, the Vikas Nagar police station in Lucknow achieved an uncommon success by preventing a massive ₹1.5-crore digital scam midway, while the 75-year-old victim remained under "digital arrest".
The swift action by the police thwarted cybercriminals' efforts to defraud Usha Shukla, a widow, of her life savings. The fraudsters had psychologically manipulated her for four days, impersonating CBI officials. Sources highlighted that the vigilance of bank officials also contributed significantly to the successful intervention.
Unlike typical cyber fraud reports that emerge via Dial 112 or post-transfer of funds, this case came to police attention through internal channels, alerting them to an elderly woman in the jurisdiction facing intense coercion from suspected scammers. Responding immediately, officers arrived at her home, surprising her as she firmly believed the individuals on her video call were authentic law enforcement personnel investigating her matter.
The timely police involvement halted the premature breaking of a fixed deposit valued at ₹1.21 crore, along with other investments, and led to the freezing of her bank accounts. It also brought to light an emerging tactic employed by cyber criminals who impersonate officials from central agencies. The scammers referenced terror cases in Delhi and Kashmir to heighten authenticity and terrorise the elderly victim. They directed her to break her fixed deposits early, consolidate funds into a savings account, and prepare for RTGS transfers to accounts they specified.
DCP (East) Shashank Singh explained that the matter surfaced when information reached Vikas Nagar police station on Monday. “The elderly woman, a resident of the area, had been receiving repeated WhatsApp video calls and phone calls from unknown persons impersonating CBI officers,” he added.
“On receiving information about the woman, we reached her home... she was surprised, as she was thinking of the men on screen as cops. They were speaking to her for days and even spoke to us on a call,” said AK Singh, SHO, Vikas Nagar.
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According to Singh, the fraudsters allegedly threatened her by claiming that her late husband’s mobile number and Aadhaar card had been used in a massive money laundering case involving terrorist funding worth around ₹50 crore. They also told her that the money was used in terror incidents in Kashmir and Delhi and that she was under investigation by the CBI’s Pune unit.
The victim’s husband, who worked in the PWD, passed away eight years ago. One of her sons works in a private bank, while the other son is no more, he added.
“To make their claims appear genuine, the callers made WhatsApp video calls showing individuals in uniform sitting inside what appeared to be an office set-up. The woman was mentally pressured and “digitally arrested”, meaning she was instructed not to step out of her house, not to contact any relatives and to follow their instructions strictly. She was warned of dire consequences, including arrest and threats to her family, if she disobeyed,” he informed.
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The officer said the fraudsters obtained her Aadhaar details, bank information and other confidential documents under sustained psychological pressure. However, the woman became suspicious and contacted the Vikas Nagar police. Acting swiftly, the police team coordinated immediately with banks concerned and informed the cyber cell. The woman was counselled and made aware that she was being targeted by cyber fraudsters.
“Further inquiry revealed that between December 11 and 15, the cybercriminals had already gained access to many sensitive documents, raising fears that funds from multiple bank accounts could be syphoned off,” the station in charge added.
ACP (Ghazipur) Anindaya Vikram Singh said the police coordinated with banks to freeze all her accounts and successfully prevented a large-scale digital fraud.
How Police Received the Intelligence
The woman, who maintains an account at Punjab National Bank’s Mama Chauraha branch in Vikas Nagar, visited the branch to prematurely withdraw her fixed deposit. Given the substantial amount, bank staff referred the matter to the branch manager. Detecting irregularities, the manager engaged her in conversation, performed internal verifications, alerted the police, and ensured her other bank accounts were frozen, according to sources.
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