₹320M Lost in Digital Arrest Scam: Victim Trapped in 6‑Month Fake Cybercrime Probe

A 57-year-old software engineer was allegedly cheated of nearly ₹320 million in a six‑month “digital arrest” scam, where fraudsters posing as officials of India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) kept her under constant video surveillance and coerced her into making 187 bank transfers.

The scam began in September 2024 after she received a call from someone claiming to be a DHL executive, who alleged that a parcel in her name contained passports, credit cards, and prohibited MDMA. The call was then transferred to a man impersonating a CBI officer, who warned her that “all evidence is against you,” although she said she had no connection to the package.

The scammers instructed her not to approach the police, claiming her house was under watch. Fearing for her family’s safety and her son’s upcoming wedding, she complied. She was forced to install Skype IDs and remain on continuous video calls, monitored by men identifying themselves as Mohit Handa, Rahul Yadav, and Pradeep Singh.

Between September and November in 2024, she revealed her financial details and transferred large sums, including a ₹20 million “surety amount” and following payments labelled as “taxes.” Ultimately, she broke fixed deposits and liquidated savings, sending ₹318.3 million in 187 transactions.

The victim was repeatedly assured her money would be returned after “verification” by February 2025, even receiving a fake clearance letter before her son’s engagement. By December, the fraudsters demanded further “processing charges” and postponed the promised refunds to March before abruptly cutting off contact.

The ordeal left her mentally and physically unwell, requiring medical treatment. Police have now registered a case and launched a probe into the sophisticated scam.

BrokersView Reminds You

Scammers posing as law enforcement officials often exploit people’s fear to perform digital arrest scams. No real authority investigates over Skype, demands money transfers for clearance, or forces continuous video surveillance with bogus fees like “surety amounts,” “taxes,” or “processing charges.”

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