Mumbai: In a shocking case of ‘digital arrest’ fraud, a 58-year-old widow from Mumbai’s western suburbs was allegedly duped of ₹60 lakh by scammers posing as senior police officials. In a departure from typical digital arrest cases involving bank transfers, the accused physically collected cash from the victim on two separate occasions by sending their agents near her residence.
According to police, the victim’s husband had passed away in April last year, leaving the family burdened with a business loan of ₹1 crore and a monthly EMI of ₹1.1 lakh. The fraud began barely a month after his demise.
The victim received a video call from an unidentified person claiming to be an officer from the Delhi Police. He alleged that a bank account had been opened using her Aadhaar card and was used for money laundering worth ₹1.5 crore.
When the woman questioned why the Delhi Police was investigating a Mumbai resident, the call was transferred to another fraudster posing as a ‘DCP’ from western Mumbai. The fake officer warned her that to avoid legal action, she must clear all her debts. The accused even shared a copy of her land records (7/12 extract) of a property in Dahanu, pressuring her to sell it immediately.
When she failed to find a buyer, the fraudsters coerced her into selling her gold jewellery. Fearing “digital arrest” and “interrogation,” the woman arranged money in two installments:
First Installment: She arranged ₹35 lakh by selling jewellery. The accused sent a photo of a man (without showing his face) on her phone, whom she handed over the cash near a bus stop.
Second Installment: On February 6, she arranged another ₹25 lakh by selling more gold. At around 6:35 am, a man arrived near her building and collected the cash. His identity was again confirmed through a faceless photo shared on WhatsApp.
When the victim repeatedly asked the accused to help clear her debts as promised, they continued to demand more money. Growing suspicious, she approached the police and realised she had fallen prey to a major scam.
The Mumbai Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation. Officials stated that while most digital arrest scams involve online bank transfers, the use of physical cash collection in this case highlights the increasing audacity of cyber fraudsters.