A former professor of Patna University was the victim of a massive cyber fraud, losing Rs 3.07 crore to fraudsters who allegedly ‘digitally arrested’ her for two days.

The incident, one of the biggest cyber fraud cases in Bihar, was registered at the cyber police station in Patna. The teacher, who lives alone in Patna while her family lives in Delhi, received a call from a person claiming to be a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer. The appellant falsely accused her of involvement in a money laundering case, creating a sense of urgency and fear.

The caller logged off after this initial interaction, but her ordeal had just begun. The fraudsters used psychological and technological manipulation over the next two days to coerce her into transferring large sums of money, eventually reaching 3.07 million lei. The victim was “digitally arrested,” a tactic that involves continuous digital communication to restrict the victim’s ability to verify claims or seek help.

The scammers escalated the pressure by making a video call in which the caller was wearing a police uniform, adding credibility to their fake narrative.