Fake police scam: Gujarat man told to visit Lucknow police station or face arrest

Latest update:25 Oct 2024, 5:45 PM IST

A man from Gujarat was held under “digital arrest” by fraudsters posing as Lucknow policemen. The scammers claimed that the man’s phone number had been misused and he should file a complaint.

The image shows the fraudster posing as the Lucknow police (left) and a fake notice “issued” by the Supreme Court of India (right). (Image credit: X/@vijaygajera)

A man from Gujarat received a call from a scammer posing as a police officer from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. The fraudster told Vijay Patel that his phone number was linked to illegal activities, warning him to either report to the police station or give his statement via WhatsApp video call. When Patel agreed to a video call, the scammers staged a “digital arrest” by falsely linking him to a money laundering case and demanding that he hand over all his funds, promising a refund if he was later found “not guilty.”

How did it all begin?

It all started with a call that Patel received from an unknown number. “I received a call from an unknown number saying that my mobile numbers will be blocked for the next 4 hours as they are being used for harassment and financial fraud. The scammers are making this call on behalf of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).”

Under the guise of TRAI, the fraudsters asked him to either go to the Lucknow police station or register his statement through a WhatsApp video call. “Any normal person would choose the second option (WhatsApp video call),” adding, “After receiving the WhatsApp call, I found the scammer in police uniform and set up as a police station.”

The setup was so convincing that anyone could fall for this “digital arrest” scam. The impersonator, posing as a police officer, asked Patel to switch to his rear camera and give a 360-degree view around. This was to confirm that he was alone, ensuring that there would be no obstruction when he made his “statement” to the supposed officer.

Aadhaar details and phone number are linked to illegal activities

The fraudsters told him that his Aadhaar details had been used to purchase a SIM card linked to illegal activities and urged him to file a complaint immediately. All this time, Patel stayed on the challenge. Soon after, he received a forged document purportedly issued by the Supreme Court of India, which claimed that he had provided information to wanted criminal Mohammed Islam Malik Nawab to open accounts at ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and SBI. According to the forged document, these accounts were involved in a large-scale money laundering and investment fraud case.

“The next step is very interesting, he used the walkie-talkie to ask about me at police headquarters. His tone changed and he started threatening me after the headquarters told me to be arrested!” – added Patel.

They linked Patel to the money laundering case to find out “how many bank accounts the victim had and how much money was in each.”

Patel further said that the fraudsters started asking if he used UPI apps or online banking, probably with the intention of using these methods to transfer funds.

Towards the end of the hour-long scam, the fake policeman hands the case over to the fake DCP. “He (the fake DCP) informed me that I need to hand over all the money I have in my bank accounts which will be returned if I am found not guilty and they will issue me a certificate!”

Patel played the entire time to record the entire scam and raise awareness. “I request you all to share this thread as much as possible because every day innocent people are targeted and lose their money in one day. Only consciousness can stop it,” he concluded.