A retired doctor’s tragic death in Hyderabad has exposed the lethal consequences of the rising “digital arrest” scam wave in India. The 76-year-old doctor, targeted via WhatsApp calls by fraudsters posing as police officials, was accused of criminal charges using fabricated documents and threats.
Over three days, the scammers forced her to stay on continuous video calls—dubbed a “digital arrest”—and coerced her into transferring ₹6.6 lakh from her pension account to their controlled bank accounts.
As the psychological torment escalated, the doctor suffered a fatal heart attack. Her family revealed she grew increasingly anxious and isolated due to the ongoing intimidation and loss of her life savings.
Investigators tracked digital evidence, leading to the arrest of two men allegedly involved in supplying the fraudulent bank account and handling the extorted funds.
Police confirm these scammers are part of a wider network exploiting fear and targeting elderly individuals nationwide. Cybercrime experts warn that unless public awareness and law enforcement monitoring improve, more such tragedies could follow.
Authorities urge the public to verify suspicious calls and promptly report threats of digital arrest to cybercrime helplines, underscoring that police never demand money or conduct arrests online.
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