A cybercrime investigation in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, has led to the arrest of three people accused of running a sophisticated “digital arrest” fraud that allegedly caused a retired government official to lose approximately ₹2.36 crore.

According to investigators, the suspects allegedly impersonated senior officials from government and judicial institutions and used the threat of a fabricated criminal case to intimidate the victim. The fraudsters reportedly used digital communication to convince the victim that he was under investigation and needed to follow their instructions.

Police said the investigation identified an alleged mastermind along with two other suspects. Authorities have reportedly managed to freeze or place on hold around ₹75 lakh connected with the suspected transactions.

Investigators also recovered a Tata Harrier allegedly purchased using proceeds from the fraud, along with cash, mobile phones and an identity card that purportedly presented one of the accused as a High Court advocate.

The case highlights the increasingly sophisticated nature of cyber fraud in which criminals exploit fear of police action, court proceedings and financial investigations. In so-called digital arrest scams, victims are often kept on video or phone calls for extended periods and pressured into transferring money or sharing sensitive financial information.

Cybercrime officials have repeatedly advised members of the public that genuine law-enforcement agencies do not conduct arrests through video calls or demand money to avoid arrest. Anyone receiving such a threat should immediately end the communication and report the matter to the appropriate cybercrime authorities.

The Sonbhadra investigation is continuing, and police are examining the financial trail to determine whether other people were involved in the alleged network and whether additional victims may have been targeted.

The arrests and allegations remain subject to the legal process, and the accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court.