A sophisticated cyber-crime technique known as ‘call spoofing’ is wreaking havoc on the life savings of citizens across Madhya Pradesh. Using internet calling and specialised software, fraudsters are altering their caller IDs to mirror the official numbers of banks, police stations, and elite agencies like the CBI or ED. Once trust is established, victims are coerced into transferring massive sums under the guise of digital arrests or money laundering investigations. Cyber criminals typically target victims with narratives surrounding KYC updates, blocked cards, income tax probes, or involvement in criminal syndicates. The process begins by creating a state of panic, followed by high-pressure tactics to force immediate decisions. In many cases, fake video court proceedings are staged to psychologically break the victim, leading to instant fund transfers. Case 1: Urmila Shukla, a resident of Ahmed Nagar, was placed under digital arrest on December 1. Fraudsters posing as investigative officers intimidated her into transferring Rs 31.60 lakh across multiple bank accounts.

 

Case 2: A 79-year-old resident of E-7 Arera Colony, Rajendra Kumar Dubey, was duped of Rs 57.20 lakh. Scammers impersonating ATS and NIA officials accused him of money laundering, forcing him to liquidate his assets to clear his name. The year 2025 has seen a sharp focus on cyber fraud, with billions lost nationwide. In Madhya Pradesh, the data reveals a significant challenge for law enforcement with 1,197 total complaints registered and 124 arrests made. Year-on-Year Recovery Trends (Total Fraud vs. Refunded): 2023: Rs 24.35 Crore defrauded |Rs 0.49 Crore (2.0%) Refunded 2024: Rs 62.77 Crore defrauded |Rs 0.44 Crore (0.7%) Refunded 2025: Rs 32.48 Crore defrauded |Rs 3.51 Crore (10.8%) Refunded Shailendra Singh Chauhan, Additional DCP, Crime Branch and Cyber, explained that criminals are now using AI tools and illegal telecom gateways. “Previously, international numbers were a red flag. Now, they spoof local or familiar institutional numbers to win trust. Caution is the only effective weapon against these foreign-server-based attacks,” Chauhan stated.