“Noida Woman Scammed of ₹34 Lakh in Fake ED Digital Arrest Scheme”
A woman from Noida’s Sector 41 has been swindled of ₹34 lakh in a sophisticated cyber scam in which fraudsters posed as officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and threatened her with a fake digital arrest.
A woman from Noida’s Sector 41 has been swindled of ₹34 lakh in a sophisticated cyber scam in which fraudsters posed as officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and threatened her with a fake digital arrest.
The victim, identified as Nidhi Paliwal, was contacted by the criminals on the night of August 8. According to her complaint, the scammers told her that a parcel with her name on it, sent from Mumbai to Iran, contained incriminating items, including five passports, two debit cards, two laptops, $900 in cash, and 200 grams of narcotics. The fraudsters then claimed that the Enforcement Directorate had issued notices against her, accusing her of being involved in a serious crime.
To make the scam appear more legitimate, the criminals sent her fake ED notices via WhatsApp, further intimidating her. They also initiated a Skype call, but kept their video turned off, trying to add an extra layer of credibility to their claims. In total, Paliwal was coerced into transferring ₹34 lakh to the scammers, fearing legal consequences and a fabricated “digital arrest.”
The case has been registered with the Gautam Buddha Cyber Crime Police Station, and an investigation has been launched. Inspector Vijay Kumar Gautam, in charge of the station, confirmed that they are actively probing the matter. He also highlighted a disturbing rise in the number of “digital arrest” scams across the country in recent months, where criminals use fear tactics to extort large sums of money.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed this growing issue during the 115th episode of his radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, urging the public to stay alert and cautious of such scams. “People from every class and age group fall victim to digital arrest scams. People have lost lakhs of rupees earned through their hard work, out of sheer fear. Whenever you receive such a call, don’t be scared. You should be aware that no investigative agency ever inquires like this through a phone call or a video call,” Modi said.
The Noida scam serves as a reminder of the increasing sophistication of cyber fraud and the psychological pressure tactics used by criminals. Authorities continue to advise people to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of any calls, messages, or emails claiming to be from government agencies or law enforcement.
As the investigation continues, the police are urging residents to report any suspicious calls or digital communications to prevent further victims from falling prey to these scams.
Sources By Agencies
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