Chandigarh police arrested six people accused of posing as police officers via WhatsApp video calls, placing victims under continuous virtual surveillance and coercing transfers later converted into USDT. Investigators reported one victim lost ₹12.6 lakh and said the gang operated layered account networks with instructions from overseas handlers on Telegram.

Chandigarh Cyber Crime Police announced the arrest of six suspects believed to be members of a ‘digital arrest’ gang that targeted elderly victims through WhatsApp video calls and persistent virtual intimidation. Officers say perpetrators impersonated law‑enforcement and judicial officials, used live video to convince victims they were under surveillance, and coerced them into making repeated transfers that were later converted into stablecoins such as USDT and routed through layered accounts. Investigators cited a case in which one victim reported losses of ₹12.6 lakh and noted the operation relied on multi‑layered domestic account networks and overseas handlers who issued directions via Telegram. The arrests follow forensic analysis of transaction chains and account linkages that enabled tracing of converted crypto flows. Police are pursuing additional leads to identify money‑mule accounts, exchange endpoints and foreign operatives, and have urged elderly citizens to verify official communications through known public channels. The case highlights how messaging apps and crypto on‑ramps facilitate cross‑border scams that blend social engineering with rapid conversion into digital assets.