An 81-year-old man in Pune helped prevent his son and daughter-in-law from losing ₹12 lakh to a so-called digital arrest scam, after noticing the younger man’s distress and intervening before the fraudsters could complete the transfer.
Call, Fake Parcel and Threat of Inquiry
The case involves the son, a chemical engineer, who received a WhatsApp call around 11 am on April 19 from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be an officer from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch and told him that a parcel addressed to him had been intercepted and seized by the authorities.
The caller alleged that the parcel contained five passports and narcotics. When the victim denied any connection to the parcel, he was told that serious allegations had been made against him and that he would have to face a high-level inquiry conducted by a senior officer.
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Video Call Used to Deepen Fear
The fraudsters then pressured the victim and his wife to install the Signal messaging application and directed them to join a video call. During the call, a man dressed in a police uniform appeared on screen and identified himself as the investigating officer.
The couple were again confronted with serious accusations and instructed not to discuss the matter with anyone else. According to the material, the intimidation continued late into the night, with the two effectively placed under digital arrest inside their own home. The fraudsters eventually demanded Aadhaar card details and banking information, and then told the victim that if he transferred ₹12 lakh, his name would be removed from the case.
Father’s Intervention Broke the Scam
During the episode, the son appeared visibly distressed. His 81-year-old father noticed the condition he was in and questioned him, which led to the exposure of the scam. The victim then immediately informed the police about the entire incident and later filed a formal complaint.
The experts also advice on how to respond to such threats. It says people should not panic, should disconnect the call if threatened with arrest or imprisonment, should never transfer money under pressure, and should not share bank details, Aadhaar information or other personal data with anyone claiming to be from the police, CBI or any other authority.
Arrests are not carried out through digital means and that anyone receiving such threats should disconnect the call and report the matter in person to the nearest police station.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
