‘Got call, held hostage..’: Scammers target influencer Ankush Bahuguna in traumatic 40-hour ordeal

Ankush Bahuguna is a social media influencer who fell prey to a cyber scam that lasted for 40 hours where he found himself falsely accused and isolated. The incidence creates an awareness of the dangers posed by cyber fraud and awaken vigilance and awareness.

YouTuber Put Under Digital Arrest

YouTuber Put Under Digital Arrest (instagram/@ankushbahuguna)

Viral News: Bahuguna, who had recently represented India at the Cannes Film Festival, stated that he had been a victim of scam artists who had charged him with some crime that he had never been aware of. It started with an international suspicious call from unknown authorities who called him saying Bahuguna was engaged in sending some illegal packages. He said he was told he should cooperate in the matter, otherwise more serious legal issues would crop up.

He said describing the chilling incident on Instagram, "I got a call when I returned from the gym from a very weird number. It seemed like an international number. I picked it up without thinking much. It was an automated call that said your courier delivery had been canceled. Press zero for support."

Under digital arrest

After this, a very traumatic series of events followed. Bahuguna was informed that he was under "digital arrest" and that he had to stay on a video call for 40 hours. The scammer, claiming to be a police officer, tried to alienate him from his friends and family by pretending to protect his loved ones.

The influencer recounted, "The customer support executive told me that I was sending a package to China, and customs had seized it. He said my name, Aadhar number, everything was linked to the package. I got scared, but I knew I hadn't sent anything."

A narrow escape

The scam ran into an overdrive when Bahuguna was told to remit money, which fortunately got stuck in the banking system. One day, he was told to check into a hotel for his own safety. It was then that he had the time to read a text from a friend cautioning him about such scams.

Spreading awareness

Bahuguna later shared his ordeal to warn others. "Sharing this so others don't have to go through what I went through," he said. He expressed gratitude for his friends, whose instincts helped him break free from the scam.

Support from netizens

Since the story of the influencer went viral, netizens rallied to offer support. A user commented, "You are not stupid at all; this has happened to so many people. When you're in it, you don't even realize it's a scam."

A call for vigilance

Bahuguna emphasized being guardedly aware and informed because, he added, he advised others to not give up so easily and to be careful with suspicious calls and fraudulent claims. His story is a stark reminder of the sophistication of cybercrime.

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