Digital Arrest: YouTuber Ankush Bahuguna Held Hostage for 40 Hours by Scammers

YouTuber Ankush Bahuguna revealed in a social media video that scammers kept him under “digital arrest” for 40 hours. In the video, Ankush stated, “I’m still in shock. I lost not only money but also my peace of mind. I can’t believe this happened to me. I’m sharing this video to prevent others from going through the same.”

Scammers’ Tactics: A Warning for All

Ankush said, “Many of you might be aware of such scams, but few realize the extent to which scammers can go to control you. Sometimes, scams are spotted within seconds, but if you’re like me, you can easily get trapped.” Ankush, who has 745K (7.45 lakh) subscribers on YouTube, creates videos on comedy and makeup tips.

Scammers in Police Uniform Conduct Interrogation

Ankush shared that he received a strange call from an international-looking number after returning from the gym. Without thinking much, he answered it. The automated call claimed his courier delivery had been canceled and asked him to press zero for help. Even though he hadn’t sent any courier, he pressed zero, connecting him to customer care, who alleged that illegal items were found in his package.

They informed him that a package sent to China under his name had been seized by customs and that his Aadhaar number was on it. He was told this was a serious case and that a warrant had been issued against him, leading to his “digital arrest.”

Video Call with Fake Police Officers

Ankush explained how the voice call turned into a WhatsApp video call, where scammers appeared in police uniforms. They accused him of involvement in serial cases like money laundering and drug trafficking and started interrogating him using names of alleged criminals.

40 Hours of Non-Stop Calls

Ankush said, “I was terrified and knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, but the scammers create a situation where you can’t think clearly. For the next 40 hours, I was under digital arrest. I couldn’t disconnect the call or contact anyone.”

Later, the scammers asked him to transfer money to certain accounts at a bank, but by the time he reached, the bank had closed. They then instructed him to stay at a hotel instead of returning home. During this time, Ankush’s friends were trying to reach him via calls and messages, but he assured them he was fine.

Fear of Being Followed After Call Disconnection

After reaching the hotel, Ankush fell asleep. He woke up to a message from a friend saying, “It seems you’re under surveillance; if so, it’s a scam.” When the scammers realized his suspicion, they resumed questioning him, but Ankush confronted them, saying he wanted to go to a police station. They warned him of people stationed outside the hotel for his safety, making him more anxious.

Gathering courage, Ankush disconnected the call, left the hotel, and called his friend to explain everything. Even after getting into an auto, he feared being followed. Later, he filed a complaint with the police.

Digital Fraud Causes ₹4.69 Lakh Crore Loss in 10 Years

According to a Reserve Bank report, over ₹30,000 crore worth of fraud occurred in India in 2023 alone. Scammers often create fake police stations, government offices, and wear police uniforms to deceive victims.

In the past decade, Indian banks have reported 65,017 fraud cases, resulting in a total loss of ₹4.69 lakh crore. Cybercriminals use various methods, including UPI scams, credit card fraud, OTP theft, job offers, and delivery scams, to target unsuspecting individuals.