An 86-year-old woman from South Mumbai lost ₹20.26 crore over two months in a ‘digital arrest’ scam, where fraudsters posing as CBI officials extorted money from her, police revealed on Thursday.
How the Scam Unfolded
A fraudster, claiming to be a CBI officer, called the woman and falsely accused her of being linked to a money laundering case through an Aadhaar-linked bank account. He then coerced her into staying confined in her home for two months, threatening to arrest her children. The scammer called her every three hours to monitor her location.
Over time, the fraudsters tricked her into transferring ₹20.26 crore under the pretense of clearing her name from the case, paying court fees, and other fabricated reasons. The fraud came to light when her domestic help noticed her unusual behavior and alerted her daughter.
Police Investigation & Arrests
The cyber police traced the transactions and arrested three individuals:
- Shayan Jamil Shaikh (20), who received ₹4.99 lakh.
- Razique Azan Butt (20), suspected to be linked to an international cyber fraud network.
- Hritik Shekhar Thakur (25), who admitted to withdrawing ₹9 lakh.
Authorities have also identified two more suspects and issued notices under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. So far, police have managed to freeze ₹77 lakh of the extorted funds.
What is ‘Digital Arrest’?
‘Digital arrest’ is a rising cybercrime tactic where fraudsters impersonate government officials to intimidate victims via phone or video calls. They create a sense of urgency, holding victims ‘hostage’ psychologically and pressuring them into transferring money. In early 2024 alone, Indian citizens lost ₹120.30 crore to such scams, as per the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).
How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Fraud
- Lock Aadhaar Biometrics – Prevent unauthorized Aadhaar-based transactions via UIDAI’s online portal.
- Beware of Unknown Callers – Don’t download unknown apps or share device access without verification.
- QR Code Rule – You only scan a QR code when making a payment, never when receiving money.
- Unexpected Transactions – If someone claims they sent extra money by mistake, verify before acting.
- Verify Links & Messages – Be cautious of spoofed links or suspicious SMS messages before engaging.
Report Cybercrime
In case of fraud, call the official cybercrime helpline 1930 immediately.
