BENGALURU: A Bengaluru woman and her friend from Thailand were allegedly subjected to nearly nine hours of psychological abuse on a video call by scammers posing as Mumbai police, who forced them to strip under the guise of a bogus online examination.
Scam Initiated Through Fake Police Call
According to the FIR filed at the East CEN Crime Police Station on July 19, the women received a call from individuals impersonating officers from Colaba Police Station. One of the women, currently visiting India, was accused of involvement in a so-called “Jet Airways scam” and further alleged to be linked with money laundering, human trafficking, and even murder.
To lend credibility, the fraudsters shared accurate bank card details and sent what appeared to be an arrest warrant and official documents, supposedly from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Terrified, the women transferred ₹58,477 to the scammer’s bank account and complied with their increasingly invasive demands.
“Medical Examination” Conducted on Video
Claiming it was necessary to check for birthmarks or tattoos, the fraudsters instructed the women to undress on a continuous WhatsApp video call. The victims were told they were under “digital and home arrest,” barred from leaving their premises, and ordered to remain online for 24 hours.
The psychological trauma continued until one of the women managed to alert another friend, who immediately advised her to hang up and report the incident. Following disconnection, the fraudsters sent them nude screenshots and threatened to leak them online.
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The complaint described the ordeal as “continuous harassment” resulting in “extreme stress and emotional trauma.” The police have registered a case under the Information Technology Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (cheating). The matter remains under active investigation.
“Digital arrest” refers to a cybercrime tactic where victims are made to believe they are under legal surveillance and are coerced into compliance under fabricated authority. This growing form of extortion often targets vulnerable individuals, exploiting fear and misinformation.