A Hyderabad woman lost Rs 19.5 lakh to cybercriminals who pretended to be government officials and threatened her with arrest. The scammers used fake identities to carry out what police call a “digital arrest” fraud.
The trouble started on November 4 when the victim received a phone call. The caller claimed to work for Mumbai police and told her that her bank account was connected to a money laundering case worth crores of rupees.
The fraudster warned that she and her family members would face arrest unless they helped with the investigation. This threat scared the woman into believing their story.
The next day, November 5, the scammers escalated their deception. They conducted a WhatsApp video call and displayed fake Mumbai police ID cards. They claimed a criminal case had been filed against her and threatened to cancel her passport.
Frightened by these threats, the victim sent them Rs 50,000 as an initial payment. She thought this would help resolve the supposed legal trouble.
On November 6, two more criminals contacted her through WhatsApp voice and video calls. These new scammers posed as officers from the Mumbai police and National Investigation Agency (NIA). They showed her forged RBI ID cards and fake official receipts to make their story seem real.
The fraudsters insisted she keep their conversations secret. Under extreme pressure, the woman transferred Rs 2 lakh to their accounts. She even pawned her family’s gold jewelry to raise more money for the scammers.
The cybercrime continued for several days. Cybercrime police reports show that by November 10, the victim had sent a total of Rs 17 lakh to the criminals. After receiving this large sum, the fraudsters suddenly stopped all communication.
When the woman realized she had been cheated, she contacted the cybercrime police and filed an official complaint. The authorities took immediate action to investigate the case.
On November 13, police registered a formal case against the unknown fraudsters. The charges include multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – specifically sections 204, 318(4), 319(2), and 340(2). Additional charges were filed under the IT Act sections 66(C) and 66(D).
This case highlights the growing threat of digital arrest scams where criminals impersonate law enforcement agencies. They use fear tactics and fake official documents to steal money from unsuspecting victims.
