Shivankita Dixit, who was crowned Femina Miss India West Bengal 2017, became the latest victim of a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing ?99,000 to criminals posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers.

The fraudsters accused her of involvement in heinous crimes, including human trafficking and money laundering, in a chilling con job on Tuesday.

Dixit, a resident of Manas Nagar in Shahganj and now a model, received a WhatsApp call around 4 PM from a person claiming that an HDFC Bank account in her name in Delhi had been used to launder ransom money tied to the kidnapping of 24 children.

To make their claims convincing, the fraudsters staged a video call with individuals dressed as police officers visible in the background. The staged scene terrified Dixit, who locked herself in a room and stayed on the call for over two hours, following their instructions.

Under psychological pressure, Dixit transferred ?99,000 to the fraudsters’ account. It was only after the call ended that she informed her father, Sanjay Dixit, about the incident. The family promptly filed a complaint with the Agra Cyber Crime Cell.Describing the harrowing experience, Dixit said the criminals kept her on edge, forwarding her call to multiple “senior officers” while stressing the confidentiality of the so-called investigation. At one point, when she requested to leave the room for a glass of water, they reluctantly agreed, underscoring their psychological grip on her.

“The entire ordeal left me shaken. They didn’t give me a moment to think or assess what was happening,” Dixit said.

Experts say this scam is part of a growing trend where criminals intimidate victims through prolonged video or audio calls, exploiting fear and confusion to extract money. While such tactics lack a specific legal term, they have become alarmingly prevalent in online fraud.

“Cybercriminals often target high-income individuals or those in professions such as medicine, engineering, or retired officials, believing they possess significant savings. These victims are also more likely to lose track of how their personal information might be misused,” a cyber expert explained.

The Agra Cyber Crime Cell has launched an investigation and is working to trace the fraudsters. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant against suspicious calls and immediately report any fraudulent activity.