A 30-year-old man named Bijoy Sahu attempted fraud by impersonating the Transport Secretary. Kolkata Cyber Crime Police arrested him. It has been revealed that he made a fake Facebook account using the Transport Secretary’s name. He targeted the secretary’s friends and acquaintances. By targeting familiar and known contacts, he knew that no one would easily suspect him. He used this familiarity as a weapon to carry out financial fraud.

The fake social media page was created under the name of Soumitra Mohan. He is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) senior officer. He is also the current Transport Secretary of the Government of West Bengal. As the Transport Secretary, he holds a high-level bureaucratic office position. He is responsible for the policy, administration, and control of the transport system in the state. The name of Mr. Mohan carries a lot of power due to his official position. He also has a great number of professional contacts. People trust in his appointment. By using this credibility, the defendant violated the name and likeness copyright. The defendant used it on Facebook to solicit people with social or professional connections. They did this on the assumption that people will heed requests of a high-ranking government official without questions.

Police traced his fake account and phone number and found the location to be Bharatpur, Rajasthan. The police then sent him summons twice—in September and November 2025—which he ignored and showed non-cooperation with the authorities. Subsequently, a court issued an arrest warrant in his name, and police arrested Bijoy last Sunday. The court has ordered him to be in police custody until 14 January 2026 for further investigation. Kolkata Police have seized Bijoy Sahu’s mobile SIM card. This incident is an attempt at organized digital fraud carried out through social media by impersonating a government official.

Why is this incident important?

This case is not an isolated tactic—it reflects a growing pattern of social media fraud that law enforcement agencies are increasingly encountering:

Impersonation of authority (pretending to be a powerful person): Such fraudsters usually impersonate important government officials. In this case, the Transport Secretary. The reason is simple—people tend to trust them easily. When people see posts made in the name of a senior government official, they often do not question them.

👉 People think: “He is a senior officer, so this must be genuine.” Then they hand over their bank details. They give other personal information to the fraudsters.

Social engineering (playing with emotions and trust):

Instead of hacking computers or laptops, these scammers trap people by manipulating emotions through conversation. They tag close friends, family members, or colleagues of the person they are impersonating on social media and send messages like:

• “Very urgent”
• “I need financial help”
• “Please don’t tell anyone”

How this technique works:

1. People see themselves in the mutual friends zone and believe it is a genuine, known person.
2. Urgency creates pressure.
3. Because it is a familiar profile, people do not verify anything—out of fear or trust.

👉 Scammers use this not as a technological trick, but as a psychological process.

People’s reactions in this fraud case were not the same. Some people actually sent money because they believed the message had come directly from the State Transport Secretary. The designation and trusted name were the biggest weapons here. Others stopped at the last moment. Some became suspicious. Others contacted the real Transport Secretary or his office to verify the truth. As a result, they were not cheated. Some people considered giving money. Some even decided on the amount and were willing to help. However, the matter came to light before they transferred the money.

Such variation is very common in impersonation frauds. Some fall victim, others narrowly escape. The important point is that police have not yet released a specific figure. We do not know how many people paid. We also do not know how many did not. Investigators are still examining bank transactions, accounts, and digital data. Usually, with further interrogation and new leads, these details emerge gradually.

🛡️ What current digital fraud trends indicate:

Fraud using the names and identities of government officials is steadily increasing.

Kolkata fraud numbers and trends (2020–2025):

• Increase in cases: In Kolkata Police jurisdiction, cybercrime cases rose from 172 in 2020 to 220 in 2021. Overall, cybercrime cases have increased across West Bengal.
• Financial losses: During this period, frauds amounting to crores of rupees occurred. In some cases, a single victim lost substantial amounts. For example, a retired ONGC employee lost ₹99 lakh. Another victim lost ₹88 lakh.
• Primary targets: Senior citizens and people less familiar with digital systems are often the main targets.

Between 2024 and 2025, a series of incidents in and around Kolkata highlighted organized digital fraud. This fraud is carried out using social media by exploiting the names and identities of government officials. These frauds are no longer isolated incidents; they are planned, dangerous, and deeply impact society.

In June 2024, a “digital arrest” scam in Kolkata caused nationwide shock. Around 930 people, including Debashree Dutta, were extorted by showing fake investigation and arrest threats. Debashree Dutta alone lost about ₹47 lakh. Later, Kolkata Police arrested the kingpin Chirag Kapoor and 11 others. This case proved how systematically the crime syndicate was operating. In November of the same year, a 70-year-old senior citizen fell victim to a similar scam. The senior citizen was from the Kalyani–Ranaghat area of Nadia district. The senior citizen lost nearly ₹1 crore. In July 2025, the court sentenced nine accused to life imprisonment in this case—an unprecedented judgment for such crimes.

In 2025, a businessman named Bikash Jhawar from Salt Lake, Kolkata, was trapped. This occurred through a social media “honey trap” and fake crypto investment scheme. Nearly ₹3.8 crore was siphoned off in phases. The investigation is still ongoing. The most alarming incident occurred in late October 2025. A fake Facebook profile was created in the name of former West Bengal Chief Secretary Manish Gupta. The goal was to attempt fraud on his acquaintances. An FIR was lodged with Kolkata Police’s cyber cell, and an investigation began. Similar complaints were raised by several other retired officials as well.

All these incidents show that digital fraud is no longer just about financial loss. It is a deep attack on trust, security, and social stability. Although police are active, fraudsters’ methods are becoming more complex day by day—this is the biggest warning today. Digital arrest scams, fake job offers, fake government profiles—criminals are exploiting people’s trust in government authority. These crimes are not limited to local levels; they are linked to organized gangs spread across multiple states.

Police are now actively analyzing digital evidence. This includes mobile SIM numbers, social media data, and online activity. They do this to uncover these crimes. This incident clearly reminds us of something important. Trusting someone in the digital world just by their name, designation, or profile photo is the biggest mistake. Fraudsters are no longer strangers; they are using our familiar circles, trust, and respect as weapons.

👉 Essential precautionary steps (must remember):

1. No government official will suddenly ask for money on social media—this is the first red flag.
2. No matter how genuine a profile looks, verify directly by calling or using official contact details.
3. If urgency, secrecy, or pressure is involved, pause for a moment—fraudsters use fear and haste.
4. If you have already sent money, immediately contact the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the nearest police station.
5. Report suspicious profiles and warn others.

Remember—when awareness exists, fraud fails. If you stay alert today, tomorrow someone else may be saved from financial and mental loss.