Vet varsity professor falls prey to ‘digital arrest’ scam, loses Rs 20L

Prof Dalpat Singh Malik (58) of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, fell prey to cyber fraudsters. The suspects, posing as CBI and IPS officials, threatened him on video calls. They kept him under digital arrest for 14 days by threatening to implicate him in a human trafficking case. Believing to be trapped, Dr Malik transferred Rs 20 lakh to the fraudsters. He even took Rs 10 lakh loan from the bank to pay money to them.

Later, when he realised that he was cheated, he lodged a police complaint.

As per information, the professor received a phone call on July 2, in which the caller introduced himself as a CBI officer. Afterwards, the victim was threatened through a video call by showing fake identity and documents related to the case. He was told that after the arrest of some human trafficking gang members, the latter had taken his name and accordingly, he had also been booked in the case and he would have to pay money to avoid arrest. They also told the professor that arrest warrants were also issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

In fear, Dr Dalpat transferred Rs 10 lakh from his account, which was a joint account of the victim and his wife, through the RTGS and later gave more money to the fraudsters. Another video call was received by him on July 15, in which the person claiming to be an IPS officer demanded another Rs 10 lakh, else threatened to implicate him in a case. This time, the professor reportedly borrowed money from the bank and transferred the amount to the fraudsters’ another account. The victim told the police that he was under digital arrest from July 2 to 15.

Miscreants showed ‘CBI office’ set up while making video calls

The fraudsters were so smart that whenever they made video calls to the professor, they would call from a proper “office set up of the CBI”. Miscreants used to sit in proper uniform to give the impression that CBI officers were holding interactions. They acted so professionally that even the victim did not suspect their intentions.

Taught students through online mode

Sources said since the professor was in the impression that he was put under digital arrest, he was teaching students through online mode so that no one would suspect him. However, cyber thugs kept threatening him that if he share the matter with anyone, they would send him to jail.

How fraud came to light

The matter came to light when the professor’s wife received an SMS alert of a transaction regarding the joint account. She spoke to her husband and got information about the matter. Later, both of them reached the cyber cell police station and lodged a complaint.

SHO, cyber cell police station, inspector Satvir Singh, said a case was registered against unidentified persons and the fraudsters would be arrested soon. Details of bank accounts in which the money was transferred were also being scrutinised. “The cyber cell had already started investigation. Soon, the police will get some vital clues to identify the culprits,” he said.

When prominent bizman was duped of Rs 7 cr

SP Oswal, chairman and MD of the Vardhman Group, was duped of Rs 7 crore in September 2024. The police had identified almost all suspects from Assam, West Bengal and Delhi and recovered Rs 5,25,00,600 with the arrest of Atanoo Choudhary and Anand Kumar Choudhary, both residents of Guwahati in Assam, the police said.

Eightyone-year-old Col Parupkar Singh (retd) of the Indian Army lost around Rs 35 lakh in a digital arrest fraud case in January. In another incident in the past, cyber criminals had duped 71-year-old retired principal Susheela Verma of Rajguru Nagar of Rs 47.3 lakh by putting the victim under digital arrest. Of the amount, Rs 12 lakh was already recovered by the police.

Ludhiana