A 28-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide in Bijnor after cyber fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials harassed, blackmailed, and threatened her with a fake 'digital arrest'. The scam came to light only when repeated WhatsApp calls to her phone during funeral preparations raised suspicion, police said.
Incident Details
Monika Devi, a resident of Faridpur Bhogi village, was found dead in her room on Monday night. Her two daughters, aged 9 and 11, were sleeping nearby at the time. The children alerted other family members the next morning after they found her unresponsive. Initially, the family began preparations for cremation without informing the police.
Discovery of the Scam
At the cremation ground, Monika's phone kept ringing persistently. A relative answered one video call and saw a man dressed in a police uniform who claimed to be a crime branch officer. He allegedly demanded to speak with Monika and threatened legal action if she did not respond. This alerted the family to the possibility of foul play.
Evidence Found
Police later recovered a one-and-a-half-page diary note in which Monika wrote about the threats and blackmail she faced. Family members said her fear was evident in the note, and they believed the cyber criminals had intimidated her to the point where she could not fully describe what had happened. She wrote that a man had been harassing and blackmailing her for a long time. In the note addressed to her husband, Monika expressed her love for him, asked for forgiveness, and requested him to take care of their children. She also apologized to her parents and siblings.
Family's Response
Monika had studied only up to Class 9, and her family believes the cyber criminals may have specifically targeted her because of her limited education. Her husband, Randhir Singh, filed a complaint on Wednesday, after which investigators began tracing the cybercrime network through chats, call records, and phone data. Police said an examination of Monika's phone showed that the scammers had contacted her on WhatsApp from multiple numbers.
Police Investigation
Authorities are now working to identify the perpetrators and dismantle the cybercrime network. The case highlights the growing menace of 'digital arrest' scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement to extort money or cause psychological harm. Police have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls or messages immediately.
