Sun Nov 24 20:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Noida Woman Duped of ₹34 Lakh in Elaborate Cybercrime Scam
**NOIDA, India (November 25, 2024)** – A woman in Noida was defrauded of ₹34 lakh (approximately $41,000 USD) in a sophisticated digital arrest scam, police said on Sunday. The criminals, posing as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, threatened the victim, Nidhi Paliwal, with fake notices and accusations of illicit activity.
The fraudsters claimed a package containing passports, debit cards, laptops, US dollars, and narcotics was being shipped in Ms. Paliwal’s name from Mumbai to Iran. They contacted her via phone and WhatsApp on August 8th, ultimately coercing her into transferring ₹34 lakh. The accused also used Skype to make a video call with their video feed turned off, further adding to the intimidation tactics.
Police confirmed that two fabricated ED notices, containing serious allegations against Ms. Paliwal, were sent as part of the scheme. The Gautam Buddha Nagar cyber crime police station has registered a case and launched an investigation. This incident follows a recent warning from Prime Minister Modi regarding similar digital arrest scams targeting citizens.
First Piper 