86-Year-Old Scammed of 20 Crore in Digital Arrest Fraud

In a distressing incident in Mumbai, an elderly woman became the victim of a sophisticated scam, losing over 20 crore rupees to fraudsters who falsely claimed she was under a "digital arrest." The 86-year-old from South Mumbai was coerced into believing she was implicated in illegal money laundering activities and was instructed to remain confined to her home. This harrowing ordeal lasted for two months, during which she was systematically extorted for large sums of money.

The scam began with a phone call from a person purporting to be a CBI officer. This individual ominously warned the senior citizen, "Your account was involved in illegal money laundering activities. You have been digitally arrested. You must stay at home and not go anywhere. We are conducting an investigation. We will check on you every three hours. Otherwise, your children will be arrested." Acting under the fear of her and her family's safety, the woman complied with the demands, leading to her financial exploitation.

Amidst this turmoil, the victim managed to seek help, which prompted the authorities' swift action. The police responded to her plight by tracing and freezing Rs. 77 lakhs that had already been siphoned off to various accounts and launching an operation to capture those responsible. So far, three culprits have been apprehended in different locales across Mumbai, with efforts ongoing to arrest the remaining two suspects involved in this egregious scheme. This incident has shed light on the increasing sophistication of cyber criminals and the vulnerabilities of individuals in the digital age.