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A 71-year-old retired executive from Mumbai’s Mahim area was allegedly cheated of ₹6.3 crore after cybercriminals impersonating police officers kept her under a so-called digital arrest for more than two months, threatening her with detention in a fabricated money-laundering case.
The Central Cyber Police registered a case on November 9, 2026, after the woman reported the fraud through the national cybercrime helpline, 1930, on November 7. Police subsequently froze several suspected mule accounts, securing approximately ₹2.75 crore.
The woman, who retired from an electrical equipment and consumer goods company in 2012, allegedly transferred her lifetime savings to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters after being told that the money was required for verification.
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Fake Police Officers Used Money-Laundering Allegations to Threaten Victim
The fraud began on September 3, when the woman received a WhatsApp video call from a man identifying himself as Sandeep Rao, a sub-inspector with Nashik Police.
The caller questioned her about a Canara Bank account supposedly opened in Nashik. When she denied having such an account, he allegedly claimed that her Aadhaar details had been misused to conduct money-laundering transactions worth crores of rupees.
The caller subsequently connected her to two other individuals who introduced themselves as Anil Kumar and IPS officer Vishwas Nangare Patil.
The fraudsters allegedly warned her that she could face arrest in connection with the suspicious transactions.
They also instructed her to sign a purported non-disclosure agreement and prohibited her from discussing the matter with family members or other people.
The woman was directed to contact the callers every two hours through messages or calls, allowing them to maintain constant pressure and monitor her activities.
On September 4, the accused allegedly sent her documents resembling an Enforcement Directorate arrest order and an account-freezing order bearing her name.
Eight RTGS Transfers Drained ₹6.3 Crore Over Two Months
According to the complaint, the fraudsters convinced the woman that her savings needed to undergo verification as part of the purported investigation.
Between September 5 and November 6, she transferred approximately ₹6.3 crore through eight RTGS transactions to eight different bank accounts.
The individual transfers ranged from ₹25 lakh to ₹2 crore. One of the beneficiary accounts was located in Rajasthan.
Police said the money was transferred under the pretext of verifying her financial transactions and clearing her name in the alleged money-laundering case.
The accused reportedly assured her that the entire amount would be returned on November 6 after the verification process was completed.
However, when the promised repayment did not arrive, the woman attempted to contact the callers and discovered that they had blocked her number.
By then, she had remained under the fraudsters’ influence for more than two months, believing that she was facing a genuine police investigation.
Mumbai Cyber Police Freeze ₹2.75 Crore After Helpline Complaint
After realising that she had been deceived, the woman contacted the national cybercrime helpline, 1930, on November 7.
The Central Cyber Police registered a case two days later and initiated action to trace the transferred funds.
Investigators identified and froze several suspected mule accounts connected to the transactions, securing approximately ₹2.75 crore of the reported ₹6.3 crore.
The freezing action prevented the movement of those funds, although it does not establish that the money has already been returned to the complainant.
The case illustrates how cybercriminals use fabricated legal documents, impersonation of senior police officers and prolonged psychological pressure to convince victims to transfer substantial amounts of money.
The alleged fraudsters also used repeated communication and secrecy instructions to prevent the woman from seeking independent advice while the transfers continued.
The investigation is focused on the accounts that received the money and the individuals involved in the alleged impersonation and financial transactions.
The case also reinforces the importance of reporting suspected cyber fraud immediately through the 1930 helpline, which enables authorities to initiate efforts to trace and freeze transferred funds.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
