Pune: A 72-year-old retired man from Sahakarnagar in Pune was allegedly duped of ₹27 lakh in a digital arrest scam after cybercriminals posing as officials from the Data Protection Board of India and Nashik cyber police threatened him with arrest over a fabricated terror-financing case.
The fraud allegedly took place between August 13 and 20. The victim approached Pune cyber police on August 25, following which a case was registered with Parvati police. The victim, who previously owned an engineering company that shut down around 10 years ago, received a call from an unknown mobile number on August 13. The caller allegedly introduced himself as a senior executive of the Data Protection Board of India and claimed that a mobile number linked to the victim’s Aadhaar had been used to make obscene video calls to minor girls.
The caller further claimed that 22 complaints had been registered against the victim with the Nashik cyber cell. The call was then allegedly transferred to another person who claimed to be an inspector with the Nashik cyber cell.
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During a video call, the alleged fraudster appeared in a police uniform and told the elderly man that a bank account had been opened in his name and transactions worth nearly ₹1 crore had been carried out through it. The caller further claimed that some of the money had been transferred to a terrorist organisation.
The fraudsters allegedly told the victim that all his bank accounts and fixed deposits would be scrutinised and that his gold could also be seized as part of the investigation. To make the threat appear genuine, the accused allegedly sent the victim documents purportedly issued by the Reserve Bank of India, photographs linked to a terrorist organisation and what appeared to be an arrest warrant.
The victim and his wife were allegedly threatened with a fine of ₹5 lakh each and imprisonment of up to three years if they disclosed the matter to anyone. The fraudsters then offered what they described as a way for the senior citizens to avoid further action.
They allegedly told the couple to pledge their gold with a finance company and transfer the proceeds for verification. Acting on the instructions, the victim pledged around 30 tolas of gold and received ₹27.51 lakh against it.
On August 18, he allegedly transferred ₹27 lakh through RTGS to a bank account provided by the fraudsters. After receiving the money, the accused allegedly sent him a purported receipt claiming that the amount had been deposited with the Enforcement Directorate. They assured him that he would receive a no-objection certificate within two to three days and that the money would subsequently be returned. When the promised refund did not arrive, the victim attempted to contact the person posing as the police officer. After receiving no response, he contacted the Nashik cyber cell directly.
The victim was then informed that no police officer bearing the name used by the caller was posted with the Nashik cyber cell. He realised that he had been deceived and approached the authorities.
A case was subsequently registered with Parvati police. Investigators are examining the mobile numbers used by the fraudsters, the bank account into which the money was transferred, the RTGS transaction and the forged documents allegedly sent to the victim.
The case highlights the modus operandi of digital arrest fraudsters who impersonate police officers, government officials or investigative agencies and create fear of arrest by fabricating allegations involving serious crimes. Cybercriminals often use video calls, fake official documents, fabricated warrants and threats of account seizures to pressure victims into transferring money for supposed verification. Authorities have repeatedly warned that genuine police or government agencies do not ask individuals to transfer money to private bank accounts for verification or to avoid arrest.
