Cyber Police have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with a digital arrest fraud in which a 76-year-old widow was allegedly cheated of ₹1.18 crore by criminals impersonating law enforcement officials. The accused is suspected of receiving part of the stolen money through his bank account and transferring it to other fraudsters in exchange for a commission.
Fraud Began With a Call From a Fake Crime Branch Officer
The incident began on September 6 when the elderly woman received a telephone call from an unknown person claiming to be a Crime Branch employee.
The caller questioned her about her husband and was informed that he had died in 2014. The fraudster then accused the woman of financially assisting a senior citizen involved in illegal activities.
The caller further claimed that a money laundering case had been registered against her, creating the impression that she was facing a criminal investigation.
Victim Placed Under Fake Digital Arrest
The fraudsters subsequently conducted an inquiry through video calls and informed the woman that she had been placed under digital arrest.
She was instructed not to disclose the proceedings to anyone. The callers allegedly used the threat of legal action to pressure her into following their instructions.
The woman was told to transfer her bank balance to accounts provided by the callers, with assurances that the money would be returned after the inquiry was completed.
₹1.18 Crore Transferred to Multiple Bank Accounts
Believing the claims made by the impersonators, the elderly woman transferred approximately ₹1.18 crore to different bank accounts. The transactions were carried out after the callers convinced her that the transfers were necessary for the supposed investigation.
However, the promised refund did not materialise. The money had already been transferred out of her accounts.
Daughter Discovers Fraud and Approaches Police
The incident came to light when the woman eventually confided in her daughter about the calls and financial transfers.
Her daughter recognised that she had been deceived and helped her approach the Cyber Police.
The complaint brought the alleged digital arrest operation under police investigation.
Police Arrest Suspected Money Recipient
During the investigation, police identified and arrested a 24-year-old man suspected of receiving a portion of the defrauded money.
According to police, the accused was a beneficiary of part of the transferred funds and subsequently passed the money to other cyber fraudsters. Investigators said he received a commission for facilitating these transactions.
The420 Insight: How Impersonation Enabled the Fraud
The case illustrates how criminals allegedly combined impersonation, fabricated money laundering allegations and prolonged video calls to obtain control over a victim’s financial decisions.
The fraudsters’ instructions to maintain secrecy prevented the woman from seeking immediate assistance. Her daughter’s intervention ultimately led to the complaint and subsequent arrest.
The investigation has identified a suspected intermediary in the movement of stolen funds, highlighting the role of recipient bank accounts in digital arrest fraud operations.
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