Indian train driver loses $29,000 in “digital arrest” scam

A man in India has lost $29,000 in a "digital arrest" scam after being targeted by a fake police video call. Fraudsters used threats related to the victim’s Aadhaar card to isolate him and demand payment.

A 43-year-old railway loco pilot from Bathinda, India, received a phone call one evening from an official-looking caller ID.

Maurya received a call from a woman claiming to be from the Ministry of Telecommunications, stating that shady messages had been sent from the mobile number linked to his Aadhaar ID, India’s national ID card.

Concerned, Maurya was then transferred to a video call with a man convincingly imitating a police officer, clad in uniform, and with the alarming news that 24 crime reports had been taken out against Maurya for cybercrime.

The visual authority of the uniform, plus FIR (First Information Report), was enough to convince Maurya that a transaction of over 30 million rupees ($300,000) was again linked to his Aadhar card.

To make matters worse, the impersonating officer informed the victim that his bankcard had been found with a suspect who was embroiled in human trafficking, and that 10% of the commission of the crime was being paid out to him

As the stakes had been ramped up somewhat, Maurya was subsequently told to isolate himself in a kind of digital detention. The sole method of communication he could use was the Signal messaging app.

The combination of fear and legal jargon created the sense of urgency necessary to oblige. Maurya was threatened that any communication with family or friends could lead to further escalation.

Then, a signal handler with the name Kirti Sanyal briefed Maurya that an arrest warrant had been ordered, unless he paid $36,000 to halt the legal proceedings.

Unable to comply, Maurya was forced to take out a $29,000 bank loan from the State Bank of India through an interbank transfer to the criminal's account.

Shaken, Maurya didn’t expect fraud, until the next day when the suspects unnervingly asked for the same amount of $29,000 once again.

Currently, the actual legal authorities in India are collaborating to trace the money trail.

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