Bengaluru — In one of the most alarming digital-arrest scams reported this year, a 58-year-old woman from Bengaluru was coerced into transferring ₹31.83 crore to cybercriminals who impersonated courier employees and later posed as officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Police said the victim liquidated multiple fixed deposits and savings accounts after being threatened with arrest in a fabricated narcotics-and-passport case.
The fraud began when the woman received a call from a man claiming to represent a well-known courier company. The caller told her that a parcel allegedly linked to her had been seized in Mumbai. He claimed it contained three credit cards, a passport and “suspicious substances.” The woman denied any connection to the parcel, but before she could process the situation, a second call arrived.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
“I Am a CBI Officer”: The Threat That Broke Her
The next caller introduced himself as a CBI official — but was, in fact, another scammer. He accused the woman of involvement in illegal financial activity, adding that she could face immediate arrest unless she cooperated. Investigators say the fraudsters used intimidation, scripted interrogation, and staged video calls to mimic official procedures.
The criminals insisted that she “verify” her funds by transferring them to accounts they controlled. Believing her money would be returned after verification, the woman followed their instructions. Over several hours, she broke her fixed deposits and moved a total of ₹31.83 crore through 187 separate transactions.
Bengaluru Police Open Investigation
Police have registered a case and are tracing the money trail, which they suspect may involve multiple mule accounts across states. Officers said the scale of the fraud underscores a rising trend in India: digital-arrest scams where criminals impersonate government agencies, including the CBI, NCB, ED and police departments.
A Growing Threat Across India
Cases like this have surged nationwide, with scammers using courier-related triggers — fake parcels, seized contraband or abandoned luggage — to push victims into panic. By the time the victims realize the deception, their accounts have been drained.
Authorities reiterated that no enforcement agency ever demands money transfers for “verification,” nor do they inform suspects of arrests via phone calls. Citizens are urged to disconnect immediately, verify independently and contact their nearest police station.
