I Was Crying, Begging”: YouTuber On 40-Hour “Digital Arrest”

Popular social media influencer Ankush Bahuguna on Sunday recounted a shocking and traumatic ordeal in which he was held hostage by scammers for 40 hours. The content creator, in a video on Instagram, detailed how he was forced into a “digital arrest,” isolated from friends and family, and lost not only money but also his mental well-being during the ordeal.

“I’ve been missing from social media and everywhere for the last three days because I was held hostage by some scammers,” he said. “I’m still in a little bit of a shock. I’ve lost money. I lost my mental health to this. I can’t believe that this happened to me.”

The nightmare began with a seemingly harmless automated call claiming that a package was being delivered to him. Intrigued, Mr Bahuguna pressed “zero” for support, unwittingly opening the door to a scheme that would alter his life. “The biggest mistake of my life,” he said, recalling the moment he pressed the number. The call led him to a supposed customer support representative, who told him that a package with illegal substances intended for China was linked to