A retired merchant navy officer, Surya Pal Singh, and his 100-year-old father, Hardev Singh, were ensnared in a “digital arrest” fraud, losing INR 1.29 Crore in the process. The unsettling ordeal, which unfolded over six days, has exposed a deeply disturbing cybercrime trend.
Virtual Custody, Real Losses
The scam began on August 20 when Hardev received a WhatsApp video call from someone claiming to be “Alok Singh of the CBI.” The caller alleged that an arrest warrant had been issued, alleging money laundering charges. To add credibility, a fake digital arrest notice was sent via WhatsApp, warning of “virtual custody.” Frightened, Hardev shared personal and banking details. Once Surya Pal was informed, he panicked and, between August 21 and August 26, made multiple RTGS transfers, totalling INR 1.29 Crore, to accounts in Bhavnagar (INR 32 Lakh), Panaji (INR 45 Lakh), and Jalgaon (INR 52 Lakh).
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Returning home, the family realised they had been defrauded, prompting them to file a complaint with local police.
A Worrying New Cyber Threat
This crime exemplifies the dangerous evolution of cyber scams—fraudsters combine deep technical manipulation with psychological pressure to victimise even the most stoic. The “digital arrest” model allows criminals to bypass scepticism by creating a veneer of legal authority and fear. The victims’ trust in institutions becomes the conduit for their undoing.
Cybersecurity experts warn that anyone, regardless of age or background—even a retired naval officer—can be manipulated in such scams. Just last month, a similar scheme in Bengaluru cost an engineer over INR 11 Crore, highlighting how pervasive and costly this threat has become