'40-Hour Digital Arrest': Popular social media influencer shares the harrowing cost of pressing 'zero' on a phone call

“I’ve been missing from social media and everywhere for the last three days because I was held hostage by some scammers,” he said in the video. “I’ve lost money, my mental health, and trust in so much. I can’t believe this happened to me.”

Pressing zero: How it all began
The incident started with an automated call informing Bahuguna of an alleged package delivery. Curious, he pressed "zero" to connect with support, a decision he described as “the biggest mistake of my life.” He was told by a supposed customer service representative that a package containing illegal substances, allegedly linked to his name, was destined for China.

The representative claimed that an arrest warrant had been issued against him and that he would be detained unless he spoke to the police immediately. Under this pretext, Bahuguna was connected to a scammer impersonating a police officer.

Intimidation and isolation
The fake officer accused him of serious crimes, including money laundering and drug trafficking. “You are a prime suspect in this national case,” the officer reportedly told him, warning of immediate detention and mistreatment if he failed to cooperate.

The influencer was then placed under so-called "self-custody," during which he was forbidden from contacting anyone. “They isolated me completely,” he said. “I couldn’t contact anyone, pick up calls, or even check messages. They claimed that anything I did could be used against me.”

For the next 40 hours, he remained on video calls with the scammers, who demanded access to his personal information and bank accounts. They monitored his every move, compelling him to show notifications and perform financial transactions under threats.

Mental and emotional toll
The scammers employed psychological manipulation tactics, including playing “good cop, bad cop,” to break him down mentally. “I was crying, but they kept me on the call for 40 hours straight,” he said. Friends and family grew suspicious of his unusual behavior but were met with reassurances that he was fine, as he was forced to pretend everything was normal.

“They told me my parents were under threat and that if I tried to contact anyone, they would harm them,” he said. He was even coerced into visiting a bank to complete questionable transactions and instructed to check into a hotel.

A turning point
After 40 hours, Bahuguna’s ordeal ended when he managed to see a message from his sister. The message informed him that the "digital arrest" was a known scam in the country. His family and friends, who had noticed the change in his behavior, had been trying to reach him persistently.

“I feel so lucky to have friends with such strong instincts who noticed something was wrong, even when I was saying ‘I’m okay,’” he said. “They saved my life.”

A warning to others
Reflecting on the incident, Bahuguna urged his followers to stay vigilant against such scams. “The thing with these scams is, if you buy one lie, they’ll tell ten more, and those will be scarier things,” he warned.

He concluded by advising everyone to report similar calls immediately and remain cautious. “I’m sharing this because I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did,” he said. “Stay alert and don’t fall for these traps.”