Saturday, March 29, 2025
Former Madhya Pradesh Minister Targeted in ‘Digital Arrest’ Extortion Attempt by Cyber Fraudster
Bhopal, August 9, 2025 — In a shocking case of cybercrime, a former minister from Madhya Pradesh narrowly escaped an elaborate “digital arrest” scam, in which a fraudster posed as an officer from the Mumbai Crime Branch and attempted to extort millions of rupees.
According to police sources, the fraudster contacted the ex-minister by phone, claiming to be part of a Mumbai Crime Branch team investigating him for alleged money laundering. The caller threatened to have the politician jailed and kept him in a form of “digital custody” for several hours.
To make the ruse convincing, the scammer displayed forged documents, including fake reports allegedly from Supreme Court judges and central investigative agencies. At one point, the fraudster accused the ex-minister of purchasing multiple SIM cards using fraudulent documents and misusing them for illegal activities.
However, the former minister grew suspicious and reached out to senior police officials for confirmation. The inquiry revealed the entire episode was a cyber fraud attempt. Acting on the timely verification, the ex-minister avoided making any payment and freed himself from the extortion trap.
Notably, the police have not disclosed the identity of the targeted former minister. Since no formal complaint has been lodged by the victim, no FIR has been registered so far.
The “digital arrest” scam — a growing cybercrime trend — involves criminals impersonating law enforcement officers, presenting fabricated legal documents, and using intimidation to pressure victims into paying money to avoid arrest. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, verify any legal threats directly with official agencies, and avoid making payments without confirmation.
