Influencer Ankush Bahuguna held hostage for 40 hours in digital scam: ‘I lost my mental health’

Ankush Bahuguna, a prominent YouTuber and Instagram influencer, recently fell victim to a digital scam where he was held hostage for over 40 hours by cyber criminals. The incident began when Bahuguna received an automated call from an international number, starting with +1, informing him that a courier delivery had been canceled. Upon pressing zero to connect with customer support, he was redirected to scammers who accused him of sending an illegal package to China using his Aadhar details.

The scammers claimed that customs intercepted the package, which allegedly contained illegal substances, and informed Bahuguna that an arrest warrant had been issued in his name. The call was then transferred to a person posing as a police officer, who appeared on a WhatsApp video call in uniform, presenting fabricated evidence. The fake officer accused Bahuguna of being involved in money laundering, drug trafficking, and other serious crimes, using these claims to intimidate him into cooperating. The scammers threatened his family and warned him of dire consequences if he failed to comply.

For 40 hours, Bahuguna was kept in isolation, with the scammers forcing him to stay on video calls and cutting off all communication with the outside world. They monitored his phone activity, including messages, screen recordings, and phone calls, while demanding personal information such as bank account details and passwords. During this time, Bahuguna was instructed to make several suspicious transactions, which were unsuccessful due to the bank being closed at the time.

The scammers used a “good cop, bad cop” routine to manipulate Bahuguna, alternating between offering help and making threats to escalate the situation. They also demanded that he disable his devices and stop communicating with others. The fraudsters exploited his panic and fear, manipulating him into believing he was under investigation for serious criminal activity. Bahuguna’s mental health suffered during the ordeal, and he lost a significant amount of money before realizing it was a scam.

Bahuguna eventually became aware of the fraud when a friend noticed changes in his behavior and informed him about similar cases. The friend’s alert prompted Bahuguna to question the legitimacy of the situation, leading him to understand he had been manipulated by scammers. Digital arrest scams have been on the rise, with fraudsters employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to trick victims. These scams often involve impersonating law enforcement or government officials, using fabricated evidence to convince individuals they are involved in criminal activities, and pressuring them into giving up personal details or making fraudulent transactions.