Mumbai Cyber Police have recovered ₹1.1 crore out of the ₹7.9 crore allegedly lost by a 73-year-old businessman from Andheri (West) in a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam. The victim was allegedly held under virtual surveillance by fraudsters for nearly two weeks, during which he was coerced into transferring money to multiple bank accounts after being falsely accused of involvement in a money laundering case.
According to police, the businessman lodged an FIR at the West Cyber Police Station on July 21, stating that unknown fraudsters kept him under so-called digital arrest from July 5 to July 18. During this period, he allegedly transferred ₹7.9 crore into at least six different bank accounts, including one based in Delhi. Investigators have so far managed to freeze and recover approximately ₹1.1 crore, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining funds.
Police said the scammers impersonated Delhi Police officials and falsely claimed that the victim’s Aadhaar and PAN details had been used to open a bank account linked to a money laundering investigation involving Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal. Claiming the matter involved national security, the fraudsters instructed the businessman not to disclose the so-called investigation to anyone, including his family, and kept him under continuous psychological pressure.
The fraud reportedly began with a WhatsApp call received around 11.30 am on July 5. The caller introduced himself as a Delhi Police officer and informed the businessman that he needed to be interrogated in connection with a high-profile financial crime. The victim later received a WhatsApp video call during which another caller identified himself as Rahul Gupta from Delhi Police. The fraudster allegedly claimed that an account opened using the victim’s Aadhaar details had received ₹7 crore linked to the money laundering case and threatened to issue an arrest warrant through WhatsApp if he failed to cooperate.
Believing the claims to be genuine, the businessman allegedly followed the fraudsters’ instructions and transferred money in multiple transactions. Police said the victim realised he had been cheated only after the scammers demanded additional payments and even asked him to obtain a bank loan after exhausting his savings.
The investigation has revealed that the fraud network used an extensive financial laundering mechanism involving nearly 200 mule bank accounts spread across five states to route the stolen funds. Officials believe the money was layered through multiple accounts to make tracing difficult and to quickly move the proceeds beyond the reach of investigators.
Police disclosed that they had received an early alert from the Delhi Police after a suspicious transaction was detected in a mule account that had received funds linked to the fraud. Acting on the intelligence, cyber police, along with local police personnel in uniform, visited the businessman’s residence for two consecutive days in an attempt to warn him that he was being targeted by cyber criminals.
However, officers said the victim remained convinced that the fraudsters were genuine law enforcement officials. He reportedly refused to speak with the visiting police team, denied being a victim of fraud and did not allow the officers to enter his home. Investigators said the situation significantly reduced the chances of preventing further financial losses.
Officials added that after freezing one of the beneficiary accounts, Delhi Police analysed the transaction trail and began contacting victims whose funds had passed through the account. When repeated calls to the businessman went unanswered, the matter was escalated through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which coordinated with Mumbai Cyber Police to establish contact with the victim.
Cyber crime investigators have once again urged the public to remain cautious of “digital arrest” scams, stressing that no police agency or investigative authority conducts interrogations through WhatsApp calls or video conferences or demands money to verify financial transactions. Citizens have been advised to immediately disconnect suspicious calls, independently verify the identity of officials and report such incidents without delay through the national cyber crime helpline or the nearest police station.
