Cyber fraud cases are on the rise, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims. One such alarming incident recently emerged from Mumbai, where an elderly woman was tricked into parting with ₹20.25 crore in a prolonged ‘digital arrest’ scam.
An 86-year-old woman from Mumbai fell victim to a massive cyber fraud, losing ₹20.25 crore in one of India’s longest-running ‘digital arrest’ scams. The fraudster manipulated an 86-year-old elderly lady for over two months, from 26th December to 3rd March 2025, where the scammer impersonated police officials to fear her of legal trouble and took away the hefty sum.
The incident followed a similar pattern to several that happened in the past, with scammers posing as police officials and pretending to rescue the victim in exchange for a large sum of money. They called the victim, claiming that her Aadhaar card and bank account had been misused in money laundering and other illegal activity, as reported by The Times of India, quoting The Indian Express. The scammers warned her that legal action would be taken against both her and her family, including her daughter, would be incriminated if she failed to comply.
The cybercriminals gained her trust and convinced her to remain silent, warning that she should not disclose the situation to anyone if she wanted the false charges to disappear. During this time, they coerced her into transferring money to multiple bank accounts, effectively keeping her under a state of "digital arrest" at all times.
As per the report, the victim approached the police as soon as she discovered the scam. Law enforcement promptly initiated an investigation, tracing the fund transfers and taking the fraudsters into custody. However, there is no official confirmation has been received yet.
The case is now under investigation by the Mumbai Police, who have confirmed that the fraudsters used social engineering techniques and even made fake video calls to deceive the victim. By impersonating police officials and creating a false sense of urgency, they instilled fear in her, pressuring her into making the payments for such a huge amount.
A senior police official expressed concern over the rising trend of cyber fraud, particularly targeting vulnerable individuals, especially elderly citizens. He also highlighted the increasing use of digital arrest scams to exploit victims. This alarming situation calls for greater public awareness and preventive measures to protect citizens from such fraud.
The Mumbai Police Cyber Cell is investigating the case and working to trace the fraudsters. Authorities have also urged the public to stay vigilant against fraudulent calls and video calls from individuals impersonating police officials, advising them to verify such communications before falling prey to scams.
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