A retired woman principal in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun was allegedly kept under “digital arrest” for 24 days and cheated of ₹73.60 lakh by cybercriminals posing as officials of the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The fraudsters allegedly threatened her with arrest in a fabricated criminal case and instructed her to remain inside her home from August 8 to August 31 without discussing the matter with anyone.
The accused allegedly pressured the woman into transferring money to multiple bank accounts as part of a purported investigation. They reportedly told her that the money would be kept safely with the Reserve Bank of India until the investigation was completed and would subsequently be returned to her. Frightened by the threats, the woman did not even inform her doctor son, who lived in the same house.
The fraud began with a phone call on August 8. The caller allegedly introduced himself as an officer from an investigative agency and told the woman that a SIM card issued using her identity documents had been used in a multi-crore rupee fraud. The caller then allegedly threatened her with a criminal case and immediate arrest, placing her under intense psychological pressure.
The fraudsters allegedly created a fake law-enforcement setup to make their claims appear genuine. During video calls, people wearing police uniforms were shown to the victim. They allegedly told her that she would remain under their surveillance around the clock and was not allowed to leave her home until the purported investigation was completed.
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The accused subsequently began demanding money under the pretext of completing the investigation and removing her name from the alleged case. Over the course of the 24-day ordeal, the woman allegedly transferred a total of ₹73.60 lakh to different bank accounts.
The fraudsters allegedly assured her that the money was being transferred only for verification purposes and would remain secure with the RBI. They reportedly continued to pressure her into making transactions by promising that the entire amount would be returned once the investigation was over.
The prolonged intimidation also affected the woman’s behaviour at home. She began distancing herself from her doctor son and stopped communicating with him normally. Her husband reportedly noticed the change and tried to persuade her to explain what was happening, but she remained unwilling to disclose anything because of the fear created by the fraudsters.
Her son eventually became suspicious after noticing the significant change in her behaviour and her continued isolation. Without informing his mother, he checked her mobile phone to understand the reason for her distress. He was shocked to find the video calls, messages and banking transactions connected to the alleged fraud.
The son then immediately reported the matter through the cybercrime reporting system. Following the complaint, the cybercrime police registered a case against unidentified suspects under relevant legal provisions and began investigating the incident.
Investigators are examining the bank accounts into which the ₹73.60 lakh was transferred. They are also analysing the mobile numbers, WhatsApp accounts and other technical details associated with the video calls allegedly used by the fraudsters.
Police are tracing the movement of the money to determine where the funds went after reaching the initial recipient accounts. The transaction trail is expected to help investigators identify the people involved and determine whether the accused were part of a larger cybercrime network.
The case highlights how cybercriminals are increasingly impersonating police officers and officials of investigative agencies to create fear and force victims into making financial transfers. By combining fake official identities, video calls, fabricated documents and threats of arrest, such gangs attempt to isolate victims from family members who might otherwise recognise the fraud.
Experts advise people to immediately verify any claim involving a criminal investigation, arrest or financial verification through the concerned agency’s official channels. No genuine law-enforcement investigation requires a person to remain confined at home on a video call or transfer personal savings to a private bank account for “verification” or “safekeeping.” Any suspicious demand should be reported immediately to the bank and the national cybercrime reporting system.
