Influencer shares 40-hour ‘digital arrest’ scam ordeal: ‘I’ve lost money, my mental health’
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Cyber fraud has become rampant in India in recent years. A social media influencer revealed that he had fallen for a digital scam that held him “hostage” for almost 40 hours, in the latest illustration of rampant cyber crime in India. In an Instagram video on Sunday, Ankush Bahuguna narrated how he felt forced giving into the demands of the scammers even when they asked him to make several large financial transactions and keep everything from family and friends.
![[Delhi’s cyber police say scammers stole £42.18m in 2024]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/04/18/07/iStock-1181822068.jpg)
“I’ve been missing from social media and everywhere for the last three days because I was held hostage by some scammers,” he began. “I am still in a little bit of a shock. I’ve lost money. I lost my mental health to this. I can’t believe that this happened to me.”.
Mr Bahuguna received a call from an unlisted international number telling him his package had been cancelled for delivery and asking to press a number for further information and support. Curious about a package that he did not remember sending, the influencer pressed the number, a decision he described as “the biggest mistake” of his life.
He was put through to a “customer support representative”, who went on to tell him the package had been seized by police as it contained “illegal” substances, but did not explain further. Mr Bahuguna was further told there was an arrest warrant out for him and he had only an hour to contact police and explain that his identity had been stolen.
