13-Year-Old Boy in Bareilly Outsmarts Cyber Fraudsters in 'Digital Arrest' Scam
Bareilly Boy, 13, Outsmarts 'Digital Arrest' Fraudsters — And Here's How You Can Too
News 18
Image: News 18
A 13-year-old boy from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, successfully thwarted a cyber fraud attempt targeting his parents, who were held hostage on a video call by scammers posing as National Investigation Agency officers. His quick thinking and knowledge of scams saved his family from financial loss.
- 01A 13-year-old boy recognized a scam targeting his parents.
- 02Fraudsters posed as NIA officers and used a fake arrest warrant.
- 03The boy's clever trick involved putting the phone on flight mode to disconnect the call.
- 04The family reported the incident to the police, who are investigating.
- 05Citizens are advised to never share personal information over the phone.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, a 13-year-old boy named Tanmay outsmarted cyber fraudsters who attempted to extort money from his parents by posing as officers from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The scammers claimed that the family was linked to a ₹300 crore fraud and used a fake arrest warrant to intimidate them. During a prolonged video call, the fraudsters pressured Tanmay's parents for sensitive information about their properties and valuables. Recognizing the scam from previous reports, Tanmay cleverly instructed his father to switch the phone to flight mode, which caused the call to disconnect and foiled the fraud attempt. The family promptly reported the incident to the police, and an FIR has been filed. Authorities are actively pursuing the fraudsters. Citizens are urged to refrain from sharing personal details over the phone and to report any suspicious calls to the police or the national cyber helpline.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
This incident highlights the increasing prevalence of cyber fraud in India and the importance of awareness and education regarding such scams.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Have you ever encountered a scam similar to this?
Connecting to poll...
More about National Investigation Agency

NIA Court Denies Bail to Rajanpreet Singh in Ludhiana Court Blast Case
Hindustan Times • Apr 11, 2026
Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit Cleared for Promotion After Malegaon Blast Acquittal
The Times Of India • Apr 10, 2026

NIA Files 12 FIRs in Malda District Hostage Incident Involving Judicial Officers
Hindustan Times • Apr 9, 2026
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.



