Nagpur: Cyber fraudsters used the ‘digital arrest’ modus operandi to allegedly cheat a 78-year-old Pratap Nagar resident of Rs23 lakh and threaten him with a fake arrest warrant in a fabricated terrorism case. The victim lodged a complaint with the cyber police station, leading to registration of an FIR.According to police, the scam began on Oct 14, 2025, when the complainant received a call from mobile number 9503831490. The caller identified himself as Ravikumar Sharma from Data Protection Board of India.The fraudster claimed that a SIM card and bank account had been opened in the victim’s name and was being misused in a terrorism-related case. He further alleged that an arrest warrant had been issued against the senior citizen and sent fake documents bearing the names, seals, and stamps of the Government Of India, enforcement directorate (ED), and Supreme Court of India to intimidate him.The elderly man was informed that he was under “digital arrest” and warned not to discuss the matter with anyone.From Oct 14, 2025, to March 19, 2026, the 78-year-old was coerced to transfer Rs23 lakh following continuous threats to accounts provided by the scammers. The fraudsters assured him that the money would be safely returned within 24 hours after “clearing” his name and even sent fake deposit receipts as proof.
