A 72-year-old man from Malad West allegedly lost around ₹90 lakh after cyber fraudsters posing as police officers placed him under a so-called “digital arrest” for nearly 10 days.
The fraudsters allegedly kept the senior citizen under pressure through repeated video and phone calls and ordered him to share his location every two hours. They claimed his bank accounts and mobile numbers were being used by people associated with the banned Popular Front of India and linked him to suspicious transactions involving crores of rupees.
How Did the Fraud Begin?
According to police, the senior citizen lives in Malad West with his wife, two daughters and a son. The family’s income primarily depends on his daughter’s job and interest earned from fixed deposits.
On August 28, he received a video call from a man wearing a police uniform who claimed to be an additional director general of police in Nashik.
The caller allegedly told him that his debit card had been misused for transactions worth crores of rupees and claimed that an arrest warrant had been issued against him. He was instructed to appear before the Panchavati police station in Nashik.
How Was He Kept Under Pressure?
The following day, another caller claimed to be an officer from the Panchavati police station.
The victim was allegedly sent several documents, including a purported letter carrying the letterhead of the banned organisation, photographs of people described as terrorists and 20 purported complaints.
The fraudsters alleged that the senior citizen had received a 20% commission from suspicious bank transactions.
They also allegedly ordered him to report his location every two hours while maintaining contact through phone and video calls.
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How Were Fake Documents Used?
The fraudsters allegedly sent forged documents purportedly issued by the Supreme Court, accusing the senior citizen of involvement in money laundering and terrorism.
The documents claimed that the matter posed a threat to national security.
To prevent him from seeking help, the accused allegedly made him sign a confidentiality agreement and instructed him not to discuss the supposed investigation with anyone.
How Was ₹90 Lakh Transferred?
The accused asked the victim about his savings, investments and other financial resources.
He was allegedly instructed to liquidate all his investments by August 31 and transfer the money to bank accounts mentioned in purported letters issued in the names of the Enforcement Directorate and the Reserve Bank of India.
According to police, the senior citizen followed the instructions and transferred around ₹90 lakh to different bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
Another ₹40 Lakh Demanded
Even after receiving around ₹90 lakh, the fraudsters allegedly demanded another ₹40 lakh.
They threatened to arrest the senior citizen and send him to prison if he failed to transfer the additional money. He was allegedly told that he could face up to seven years in jail.
The repeated calls, threats and video surveillance continued for several days, keeping him under sustained pressure.
How Was the Fraud Discovered?
The victim became suspicious after all the mobile numbers used by the callers were switched off.
He then informed his family and reported the cybercrime.
Police registered an FIR against unidentified persons and began examining the bank accounts, mobile numbers and forged documents allegedly used in the fraud.
The420 Takeaway: No Police Officer Will ‘Digitally Arrest’ You
A demand to remain continuously available on a video call, secretly report your location or transfer savings to supposedly “safe” or official accounts is a major warning sign. Genuine law enforcement does not conduct a “digital arrest” or require people to transfer their investments as part of an investigation.
Anyone receiving such threats should stop engaging with the callers and report the incident through official cybercrime channels.
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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