A retired Indian Army Colonel was allegedly cheated of ₹15.5 lakh in a sophisticated “digital arrest” cyber fraud after scammers impersonated police and enforcement officials, placed him and his wife under sustained psychological pressure for five days and coerced the transfer of funds under the pretext of complying with fabricated Reserve Bank of India instructions.
Delhi Police’s Cyber Police Station, South-West District, arrested four men from Punjab and Rajasthan who allegedly acted as facilitators by procuring and supplying mule and current bank accounts to overseas cyber fraud syndicates. Police said the accounts were used for routing fraudulently obtained money.
The case came to light after the retired Colonel received a call on May 13, 2026. The caller allegedly identified himself as a Haryana Police official and claimed that the victim’s Aadhaar number had been misused to open an illegal bank account in Mumbai linked to money laundering, investment fraud and terrorist financing.
Five Days of ‘Digital Arrest’ and Constant Surveillance
According to the investigation, the victim was subsequently connected through WhatsApp video calls to fraudsters impersonating law enforcement personnel. The scammers allegedly displayed forged documents and insignia to make their claims appear genuine.
The retired officer and his wife were allegedly kept under continuous video surveillance and subjected to sustained psychological pressure. They were warned not to disconnect calls or communicate with relatives and were threatened with arrest and other consequences.
The fraudsters allegedly claimed that a verification process was required and instructed the victim to transfer ₹15.5 lakh to an account described as a “safe fund” or “secret account”. The money was purportedly required for verification under fabricated RBI procedures and was promised to be returned after the process was completed.
After the money was transferred, the victim realised that he had been cheated and approached the police.
Police Trace Money Trail, Arrest Four Accused
A case was registered at the Cyber Police Station, South-West District, and investigators began analysing bank transactions, account details and other technical information connected with the fraud.
Police said the investigation led them to multiple individuals allegedly involved in arranging and supplying bank accounts used by the cybercrime network. Four accused were subsequently arrested from Punjab and Rajasthan.
According to police, one accused allegedly received a fixed payment for arranging a bank account, while others were involved in procuring current accounts and providing them to the network. The investigation indicated that the accounts were being used to receive and move money obtained through cyber fraud.
Investigators also examined transaction patterns and other account-related information as they sought to establish the wider network behind the operation. Police said further investigation was under way to identify other people involved and trace additional accounts linked to the syndicate.
The case reflects the organised nature of “digital arrest” scams, in which fraudsters pose as police, investigative agencies or other authorities and use prolonged intimidation to pressure victims into transferring money.
Police Warn Public Against ‘Safe Account’ Claims
Police cautioned that legitimate law enforcement agencies do not conduct investigations through video calls in the manner used by such fraudsters and do not ask people to transfer money to so-called “safe accounts” or “secret accounts” for verification.
The fraud relied heavily on fear, authority and isolation. By keeping the victim under continuous communication and restricting contact with relatives, scammers allegedly attempted to prevent independent verification of their claims.
Police advised people receiving threatening calls from individuals claiming to represent government or investigative agencies to independently verify the caller’s identity through official channels before taking any financial action.
The investigation into the alleged network remains under way, with police working to identify other facilitators, beneficiary accounts and individuals involved in moving the proceeds of cyber fraud.
