Himachal Pradesh's Solan district has reported a severe cyber fraud case where an elderly retired couple lost Rs 72.10 lakh to cybercriminals after being placed under a fake digital arrest for two consecutive days. The impostors posed as senior anti-terror investigators to intimidate the victims into liquidating their entire life savings. Even after the branch manager of Punjab National Bank in Nalagarh spent 30 minutes trying to caution the couple against the transaction, the panicked victims insisted on executing the transfer, falsely alleging that they needed the funds to complete an urgent real estate purchase.
Terror Investigation Threat and Two-Day Digital Arrest
The ordeal commenced on 5 September, when the high-ranking retired couple received an unexpected phone call. The caller falsely introduced himself as Prakash Agrawal, Chief of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and informed them that their credentials were under active scrutiny by the Anti-Terrorism Squad. He alleged that their Aadhaar card details had been discovered in connection with serious terrorist activities. Exploiting their panic, the fraudsters collected their bank account numbers, Aadhaar details, and PAN card credentials. The scam artists then held the couple under digital arrest inside their own home for two full days, continuously keeping them under psychological pressure and demanding Rs 72.10 lakh under the guise of security verification. The victims were also asked to state in a written document that they were suffering from illness.
Panic Transaction at PNB Nalagarh Branch
Terrified by the constant intimidation, the couple rushed to the Punjab National Bank branch in Nalagarh to prematurely withdraw all their fixed deposits. Upon seeing the large sum involved and the couple's anxious behavior, bank manager Saurabh Mokta intervened and spent half an hour warning them about potential cyber scams. However, fear prevailed over advice. To bypass the manager's objections, the couple falsely stated that they were transferring Rs 72.10 lakh to purchase a property. Driven by the fear instilled during their digital confinement, they finalized the transaction, effectively handing over their entire life savings to the fraudulent accounts.
Pensioners Group Post Exposes Fraud and Triggers Helpline Complaint
The financial crime came to light only when the couple mistakenly posted a document into a local pensioners' group, mentioning that they were heart patients and seeking assistance. Ashwani Ghai, a retired manager from Punjab National Bank who was part of the group, noticed the message and promptly visited the couple's residence. After extensive counseling, he persuaded them to disclose the entire incident. Ashwani Ghai immediately alerted the bank authorities, but the perpetrators had already transferred the money out of the target accounts. Following the realization of the fraud, the couple registered a formal complaint on the police cyber crime helpline number 1930 to seek law enforcement action.
