Fake Discom Officials Scam: Rs 20 lakh lost, investigation underway

Two cyber fraudsters were arrested on Sunday for allegedly duping an East Delhi resident of over Rs 20 lakh by posing as electricity officials, highlighting the growing sophistication of digital scams.

According to police, the complainant, Vinod Sharma , a resident of Mansarovar Park , received a call on March 8 from an individual claiming to be a BSES official updating electricity meters. Sharma was persuaded to pay a nominal Rs 13 online . “Soon after the payment, Sharma’s mobile phone was compromised, and multiple unauthorized transactions totaling Rs 20.36 lakh were made from his bank accounts,” said a police officer.

The accused, Shiv Kumar and Anshu Kumar , both residents of Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh , were apprehended following a detailed investigation. Police traced the money through multiple accounts, payment gateways, and wallets , revealing efforts to conceal the origin of the funds . Two mobile phones used in the scam were also recovered.

This case underscores the rising sophistication of cyber frauds , where even small payment requests can lead to full device compromise and significant financial loss . Authorities emphasize the need for public awareness regarding unsolicited calls and suspicious links. It also raises questions about how many such cases go unreported and highlights the urgent need to strengthen preventive systems against digital scams.

Further investigations are ongoing as police continue to analyze transaction trails and related cyber activity.