YouTuber Ankush Bahuguna describes ordeal during 40-hour long digital arrest, did he lose money?

Popular YouTuber Ankush Bahuguna on Sunday, i.e., January 5, took to Instagram and shared how he fell prey to a digital arrest scam, having been held hostage for almost 40 hours. 

Sharing a detailed video, Bahuguna went candid on how scammers manipulated him, as a result of which, he lost money and even his mental health took a toll. 

"I have been missing from social media and everywhere for the last three days, I was held hostage by some scammers for 40 hours… I have lost money, I have lost my mental health to this, I can't believe this has happened to me", said the YouTuber. 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Wing It with Ankush Bahuguna (@wingitwithankush)

Ankush Bahuguna further said that he had to share the details in a bid to raise awareness on digital arrest scams - which is now indeed a growing concern. 

"Sharing this, so others don’t have to go through what I went through. I feel so lucky to have friends with such strong instincts who noticed a change in my behaviour even when I was sending ‘I’m okay’ texts. I know a lot of you are aware of it, but I don’t think a lot of people understand the extent to which these scammers can go to control you", he remarked. 

How the scam unfolded 

Providing details on how the scam took place, Ankush Bahuguna said that he had gotten a call before yesterday, i.e., Friday, from a "very weird" number starting with +1. 

Assuming it as an international number, he picked up the call without thinking too much. "It seemed like an international number. I picked it up without thinking much. It was an automated call that said your courier delivery had been cancelled. Press zero for support," Ankush said.

"Now, I haven't sent anything, but I pressed zero… because I was just curious. Biggest mistake of my life. Customer support answers. He told me 'sir aapke package mein illegal saaman pakda gaya hai [something illegal has been discovered in your package)," he further stated. 

Ankush Bahuguna went on to recall that the caller told him that "the package that was being sent to China has been seized by customs". As he informed the caller that he hadn't sent anything to China, he was told his phone number, Aadhar number including other personal details - a technique most commonly used by scammers to manipulate people. 

“This is a very serious crime, and now you will be under digital arrest", the callers told him, as Ankush recalled. He further said that he had panicked by this moment and was asked by the caller to connect to the police within an hour. 

"He then convinces me that i don't have enough time to go to the police station and he will do me a favour by connecting directly to the police station", Ankush continued. 

The YouTuber further said that he received a video call from a man posing as a police officer. "I don't know how the call then gets transferred to a WhatsApp call, which is a video call with a police officer… he is in police ki wardi (police uniform)," he said, adding that he panicked further after he was told his name had come up in money laundering, drug trafficking and a lot of “very very serious crimes”.

"These scammers do their research and tell you things they know will affect you. I don’t wish this on anyone", he stated. 

Ankush was further told that he is a “prime suspect” in a “national case” and that he is under “self custody”. Moreover, he was directed to disconnect from the outside world. 

"Not everybody reacts the same way to panic. Instead of calling this stupid, make people around you aware of it", Ankush opined. 

What is digital arrest scam?

A digital arrest scam is a sophisticated form of cyber fraud, where scammers manipulate people for financial gains, impersonating as police officials or law enforcement officers or government agents. 

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned the countrymen against rising cases of such scams. He clarified that "no government agency will ever contact you via phone or video call for such an investigation".

“Beware of digital arrest frauds. There is no system like digital arrest under the law. No government agency will ever contact you via phone or video call for such an investigation", PM Modi said.