The “digital arrest” scam came to light after the elderly man discussed the matter with family members, who suspected foul play and advised him to approach the police.
In yet another case of a senior citizen being targeted through a “digital arrest” scam, an 87-year-old retired executive from Pune was allegedly duped of Rs 3.46 crore by cyber fraudsters posing as senior CBI officials, who threatened him with arrest in a fake money laundering case.
The Pune city cyber police recently registered an FIR against unidentified persons involved in the scam, which allegedly took place between February 21 and April 16 this year.
HOW THE ‘DIGITAL ARREST’ UNFOLDED
According to investigators, the fraud began when the complainant received a video call from a man claiming to be an employee of a telecom company. The caller allegedly informed him that his mobile number was linked to a CBI investigation and that senior officers would soon contact him.
Shortly afterwards, another individual dressed in a police uniform allegedly appeared on a video call and claimed that a warrant had been issued against the victim. The fraudster reportedly told the octogenarian that the inquiry would be conducted virtually due to his advanced age.
The victim was then contacted by another fraudster, who introduced himself as “CBI Director Samadhan Pawar”. Claiming that the victim was involved in money laundering, the fraudster allegedly placed the 87-year-old under “digital arrest” and warned him not to discuss the matter with anyone.
Police said the accused convinced the victim that his bank accounts, investments and savings needed to be “verified” by transferring funds to so-called Reserve Bank of India accounts.
Fearing arrest and imprisonment, the victim allegedly transferred Rs 3.46 crore in 15 separate transactions over nearly seven weeks. Investigators said the stolen money was routed through multiple mule accounts across different parts of the country.
The fraud came to light after the elderly man discussed the matter with family members, who suspected foul play and advised him to approach the police.
THE RISING MENACE OF ‘DIGITAL ARRESTS’
In a “digital arrest” scam, fraudsters contact targeted individuals through calls, SMSes or social media platforms while posing as law enforcement officials. They falsely accuse victims of crimes such as money laundering, identity theft or other serious offences.
Victims are then threatened with immediate “digital arrest” unless they comply with the fraudsters’ demands. As the interaction progresses, scammers attempt to extort money or obtain sensitive personal information from unsuspecting individuals.
According to Home Ministry data, Indians lost at least Rs 22,495 crore to cyber fraud in 2025. “Digital arrest” scams accounted for 9 per cent of the total money lost, while 6 per cent of all cyber fraud cases reported during the period were linked to such scams.
