19-Year-Old Hostel Resident Arrested for ₹2.27 Crore Digital Scam

In a shocking case of online fraud, a 19-year-old from Jaipur has been arrested for masterminding a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam that duped a retired teacher in Dehradun out of ₹2.27 crore. The accused, Neeraj Bhatt, was taken into custody by the Uttarakhand police on January 18 and is suspected of involvement in similar fraud cases in Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh.

The elaborate scam targeted Mahipal Singh, a 63-year-old retired teacher from Dehradun. It began with a phone call on September 9, where the fraudster, impersonating a Mumbai police officer, accused Singh of using his Aadhaar card and mobile number for illegal activities, including opening a bank account involved in ₹20 lakh worth of money laundering.

To cement the illusion, the scammer made a WhatsApp video call dressed in a police uniform, showing fake arrest warrants and court documents. Singh was threatened with imminent arrest unless he complied with their instructions.

For nine harrowing days, Singh lived under "digital arrest," forbidden to leave his home or speak to anyone about the alleged charges. The fraudsters manipulated him into transferring vast sums of money across multiple transactions, claiming the funds were needed for account validation and court fees.

Between September 11 and September 17, Singh transferred: ₹33 lakh from his PNB account₹86 lakh, ₹52 lakh, ₹24 lakh, and ₹32 lakh in successive transactions from other accounts

The fraudsters continued to pressure him for additional payments, promising a refund of all funds after "deducting court fees." Realizing the deception too late, Singh reported the loss of his life savings: ₹2,27,22,717.

The case, registered on September 27, was taken up by Uttarakhand’s cyber police station. A team led by Senior Superintendent of Police (STF), Navneet Singh, analyzed technical evidence by collaborating with banks, telecom providers, and tech companies, including Meta and Google.

After extensive investigation and raids, Neeraj Bhatt was arrested from his hostel near Landscape Park in Jaipur. A mobile phone recovered from him contained SMS alerts linking him to the fraudulent transactions.

Further investigations revealed the same bank account was involved in similar complaints in Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh, suggesting Bhatt's broader involvement in digital fraud networks.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of digital scams. Authorities are urging citizens to verify the authenticity of calls or messages from alleged law enforcement officials and avoid sharing sensitive personal or financial information without confirmation.

While the arrest of Neeraj Bhatt marks progress, it highlights the need for vigilance in an increasingly digital world. For Singh, the road to justice and recovery may still be long, but his ordeal sheds light on the sophisticated tactics fraudsters use to prey on unsuspecting individuals.