A 74-year-old retired government officer in Pune was allegedly cheated of ₹1.28 crore after cyber fraudsters posed as officials from the Department of Telecommunications and Mumbai Crime Branch and placed him under a so-called “digital arrest”.
The fraudsters allegedly accused the senior citizen of being linked to a money-laundering case and forced him to transfer money to multiple bank accounts. Pune Cyber Crime police have registered a case.
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What Is a ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam?
A “digital arrest” is a fraud tactic in which scammers impersonate police, government or investigative officials and falsely accuse victims of involvement in crimes to frighten them into complying with demands.
Victims may be shown fake documents, threatened with arrest or pressured to transfer money under the guise of an investigation. Read our detailed guide on what digital arrest scams are, how they work and the warning signs to watch for.
How Did the Fraud Begin?
The victim received a call from a woman on August 20 who claimed to be from the Department of Telecommunications.
She allegedly told him that a SIM card obtained using his Aadhaar card had been misused and that obscene videos had been sent to Mumbai through the number.
The claim was used to create fear and draw the victim further into the fraud.
How Did Fraudsters Impersonate Police?
Another person later contacted the victim and claimed to be an officer from the Mumbai Crime Branch.
The caller allegedly told him that an FIR had been registered against him. The fraudsters also sent him a fake FIR and documents related to money laundering to make their claims appear credible.
They obtained information about his investments and savings and allegedly told him that he had to assist with the investigation because he was a senior citizen.
How Was ₹1.28 Crore Transferred?
Between August 27 and September 1, the victim was allegedly forced to transfer a total of ₹1.28 crore through four transactions to different bank accounts.
The transfers were made under the guise of a financial investigation.
The victim became suspicious after the money had been transferred. Realising that he had allegedly been cheated, he approached the police.
What Case Has Police Registered?
Police registered a case under Sections 308, 318 and 319 of the Indian Penal Code, along with Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act.
The provisions cited relate to extortion, cheating, cheating by impersonation, identity theft and cheating by impersonation using computer resources.
How Common Are Digital Arrest Cases in Pune?
Police figures cited in the case show that 95 digital arrest cases have been registered in Pune this year.
Of these, 36 cases have been solved and 71 people have been arrested.
Police said some victims of such fraud are senior citizens and efforts are being made to create awareness among citizens.
Why Are Senior Citizens Being Warned?
The Pune case shows how fraudsters can combine impersonation, threats of criminal action and fabricated documents to pressure victims into transferring large sums of money.
In this case, the fraudsters allegedly posed as officials from government and law-enforcement agencies, raised allegations involving a SIM card and money laundering, and then used the supposed investigation to obtain information about the victim’s finances.
The420 Takeaway: “A Fake Investigation Can Lead to a Very Real Loss”
The ₹1.28 crore loss shows how impersonation and fabricated legal documents can be used to create fear and pressure victims into transferring money. Claims of criminal cases or financial investigations received over calls should be independently verified before any money is transferred.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
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