The victims, Ram Prakash Hariya and his wife, residents of Ramprastha Greens Society in Vaishali, received a WhatsApp video call on May 22 from a man who identified himself as an official from Delhi's Daryaganj. During the call, the accused allegedly informed Hariya that his name had surfaced in the 2023 Canara Bank embezzlement case involving Rs 538 crore.
Claiming that Hariya was under "digital arrest," the fraudsters allegedly kept the couple under constant surveillance through video calls for 12 days. To make the deception appear authentic, the accused allegedly created a fake courtroom setting where they questioned the couple for four to eight hours every day. They allegedly threatened the elderly couple with arrest and legal action unless they complied with their demands.
Fearing legal consequences, Hariya transferred money into multiple bank accounts as instructed by the fraudsters. Under immense psychological pressure, he also borrowed money and secured loans worth Rs 70 lakh to meet the accused's demands.
By the end of the ordeal, the couple had allegedly lost approximately Rs 2.20 crore.
After realizing they had been victims of an elaborate cyber fraud, the couple approached the police and lodged a complaint. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway to identify and trace the cyber fraudsters involved in the crime.
The incident highlights the growing sophistication of cyber criminals who exploit fear through fabricated legal proceedings and prolonged psychological intimidation, resulting in devastating financial losses for unsuspecting victims, particularly senior citizens.
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