Mumbai: An 86-year-old woman from South Mumbai fell victim to a sophisticated ‘digital arrest’ scam, losing over ₹20 crore of her savings over two months, police reported on Thursday.
The fraudsters, one of whom impersonated a CBI officer, coerced the elderly woman into believing she was under investigation for financial crimes. As part of their scheme, they confined her to her home for two months, monitoring her movements by calling her every three hours. Police have arrested three individuals linked to the crime, which occurred between December 26, 2024, and March 3, 2025.
According to an official, cyber police have managed to freeze ₹77 lakh by tracing the bank accounts where the stolen money was funneled.
‘Digital arrest’ is an emerging cybercrime tactic where scammers pose as government officials or law enforcement officers to intimidate victims via audio or video calls. By instilling fear, they pressure individuals into making hefty financial transfers under the guise of legal consequences.
The woman filed a police complaint earlier this month, revealing that she had initially received a call from a man claiming to be a CBI officer. He falsely informed her that a bank account linked to her Aadhaar card had been used for money laundering. To further intimidate her, he claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was investigating the matter and threatened her with "digital arrest," warning that her children could also face imprisonment.
Her unusual behavior raised suspicion when a domestic help noticed she rarely left her room except for meals and was often heard yelling at someone inside. Concerned, the maid alerted the woman’s daughter.
Under the pretense of verifying her financial records, the fraudsters manipulated the woman into sharing her bank details. Over two months, they extorted ₹20.26 crore, citing various fabricated reasons such as clearing her name from the investigation and covering court fees. They falsely assured her that the money would be refunded once the so-called "probe" was concluded.
During their investigation, cyber police tracked the fraudulent transactions to multiple bank accounts, including one belonging to Shayan Jamil Shaikh (20) from Malad. Authorities discovered that ₹4.99 lakh had been transferred to his account, which he withdrew and passed on to another fraudster.
Shaikh’s arrest led police to another suspect, Razique Azan Butt (20) from Mira Road, Thane. Further investigation uncovered a third accused, Hritik Shekhar Thakur (25) from Andheri, who had received ₹9 lakh in his account. Thakur confessed to withdrawing the amount from an SBI bank account after receiving it from his accomplices.
Police suspect Butt is connected to an international cyber fraud network. Additionally, two more suspects have been identified and served notices under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita section 35, which allows for arrests without a warrant. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the racket.