Comedian's Scary Experience with Digital Scam Highlights Cybercrime Epidemic in India

Mon Jun 01 2026 19:38:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Ankita Shrivastav, a Mumbai-based stand-up comedian, shares her harrowing experience of being scammed in a digital arrest while raising awareness about the rising threat of cybercrime in India.

In a shocking incident, comedian Ankita Shrivastav was duped by scammers posing as police, leading her to a harrowing eight-hour ordeal where she complied with their demands to approve large monetary transactions under duress. Her experience underscores a wider trend of escalating digital fraud in India, with cybercrimes surging by nearly 18% leading to significant financial losses. Shrivastav now uses her platform to educate others about the psychological tactics employed by fraudsters and the importance of digital safety.

Ankita Shrivastav, a stand-up comedian based in Mumbai, shared a terrifying experience that could happen to anyone, including the most educated and street-smart among us. While speaking on her YouTube channel, she recounted a phone call she received in October 2024 from someone claiming to be from FedEx, stating that a parcel she sent had been flagged by police for containing drugs.

What ensued was an eight-hour ordeal of a digital arrest, where Shrivastav was coerced into making financial transactions under the watchful eyes of fraudsters posing as police officers. The pressure of the situation, coupled with fear of authority, led her to approve transactions worth 900,000 rupees (about $9,300), only to learn later that it was a scam that cost her dearly.

Shrivastav's story is not isolated. Recent reports indicate that cybercrime is on the rise in India, with a staggering 220 billion rupees lost to digital scams in the last year. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), registered cases of cybercrime surged by nearly 18% in a single year, highlighting the escalating crisis.

The concept of digital arrest is new and terrifying. It involves scammers impersonating law enforcement officials to intimidate victims into compliance via video calls. Shrivastav's case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly someone can fall victim to such schemes, despite being educated.

Experts attribute the rise in digital scams to increased internet usage—over 86% of Indian households are now online—outpacing the public's digital literacy. The art of scamming often exploits psychological vulnerabilities, and Gupta, an author on the topic, emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and vigilance among individuals engaging online.

In response to this growing threat, the Indian government has initiated various measures, including the establishment of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the launch of public awareness campaigns aimed at educating citizens on cyber safety. Yet, with the rapid evolution of digital crime, the challenge remains substantial.

By sharing her experience, Shrivastav hopes to illuminate the dire realities of digital scams, encouraging others to remain cautious and aware of their online activities. As she poignantly states, If I - an educated, urban woman who considers herself street-smart - could get scammed, it could happen to anyone.