A new online scam has been reported where a man from Noida lost Rs 5 lakh after being digitally trapped. According to an online report, 52-year-old Naveen Kumar Anand is the latest victim of a sophisticated fake parcel scam.

On the afternoon of June 5, Naveen Kumar Anand received a call from an unknown number. The caller, pretending to be from the Mumbai Crime Branch, told Anand he was under “digital arrest” for alleged involvement in drug smuggling and money laundering. The scammer demanded that Anand stay on a video call and threatened to issue an arrest warrant unless he cooperated. They also demanded a sum of money as “proof of his innocence” to prevent his bank accounts from being frozen.

Thinking he faced legal troubles, Anand followed the scammer’s demands and transferred Rs 5 lakh to a specific bank account. He believed the money would be returned after the investigation. But a week later, Anand realized he had been deceived. The promised return of the funds never happened, so he decided to file a police complaint.

Here are tips to protect yourself from online scams:

1. Verify urgent requests from online or phone sources with official sources before taking action.
2. Remember, law enforcement agencies usually don’t arrest or investigate over the phone. Don’t feel pressured by threats of arrest.
3. If you get a suspicious call, report it to the authorities right away.

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