82-year-old Pune man dies after losing ₹1.19 crore in ‘digital arrest’ scam

The fraud began with a fake call from a supposed Mumbai Police officer, followed by another posing as a CBI official, who kept the elderly Pune couple under “digital arrest” for three days and extorted ₹1.19 crore

An 82-year-old retired state government officer from Pune died of shock after he and his 80-year-old wife were defrauded of ₹1.19 crore in a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam. The fraud, executed between August 16 and September 17, involved conmen impersonating officials of the Mumbai Cyber Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

According to the police, the couple were misled into believing that they were implicated in a money-laundering case linked to a private airline. The fraudsters kept them under “digital arrest” for three days, during which they extorted the couple’s personal and banking details.

The victim collapsed at home on October 22 and was declared dead at a hospital. His wife, who later filed a complaint, told police that her husband had been under extreme mental stress following the incident and the loss of their life savings.

The fraud unfolds

The ordeal began when the man received a call from someone claiming to be a Mumbai Police “encounter specialist.” The caller alleged that his Aadhaar and bank details were being misused in a financial crime. Shortly after, another scammer posing as a senior CBI officer from Delhi informed the couple that they were under investigation and would face arrest unless they cooperated.

Under the guise of an official probe, the fraudsters forced the couple to keep their phone camera on for three days, effectively placing them under “digital house arrest.” During this time, they obtained the couple’s banking information and coerced them into transferring ₹1.19 crore into five separate accounts.

When the calls abruptly stopped, the couple realised they had been conned and contacted their daughter abroad, who urged them to report the matter to police.

Experts warn against ‘digital arrest’ scams

Cybercrime specialists have cautioned the public against such tactics. Expert Rohan Nyayadhish explained that no law enforcement agency can arrest anyone over a phone call or demand money and credentials remotely.

He warned that fraudsters often operate using VPNs and SIM cards registered in smaller towns, urging citizens to remain calm and verify any such calls with local police before taking action.