On January 5, Kangush Bahuguna, a popular YouTuber and social media influencer, shared a shocking story on Instagram about a scary scam that left him feeling trapped. After being away from social media for three days, he revealed that scammers held him hostage for 40 hours. He lost money and struggled with his mental health during this time. “I can’t believe this happened to me,” he said in a heartfelt post, hoping to help others avoid similar situations.
How the Scam Started
It all began when Bahuguna got an unexpected automated call after returning from the gym. The call, from an international number, claimed his courier package had been canceled and asked him to press zero for support. Thinking it was real, he pressed zero. On the other end, a scammer claimed that Bahuguna’s name was linked to a package with illegal items, creating panic.
Escalation and Isolation
As Bahuguna listened in fear, the scammers insisted he was involved in serious crimes like money laundering and drug trafficking. They told him that an arrest warrant was already issued for him. Growing more anxious, he was transferred to a fake police officer on a video call, which made everything even scarier.
The scammers cut him off from friends and family, telling him to turn off all his electronic devices. “They took every bit of information from me,” Bahuguna recalled, describing how helpless he felt.
Coercion and False Custody Claims
Things took a turn for the worse when the scammers said he was under “self-custody.” Bahuguna stayed on video with them for 40 hours without being able to seek help. The scammers even tried to force him to make strange bank transactions, but he realized something was off when a friend warned him about the scam.
Bahuguna reminded everyone about the psychological impact of scams and urged people to be kind and understanding toward victims. “Not everyone acts the same way in a panic,” he said. He encouraged vigilance against such scams that are becoming more common, especially through digital platforms.
As scams like this grow, it’s crucial for everyone to stay alert and recognize the signs of fraud. Bahuguna’s experience is a strong reminder that we must protect ourselves from such dangers.
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