82-Year-Old Defrauded of ₹72 Lakh in ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam

Quick Summary

• An 82-year-old resident of Banjara hills lost ₹72 lakh in a ‘digital arrest’ fraud scam earlier this month.
• The victim was targeted starting August 11 through a WhatsApp video call by someone posing as a Mumbai Crime branch officer.
• He was falsely informed that his Aadhaar card had been misused in a money laundering case and threatened with account freezes.
• On August 12, the scam escalated with fake video conferences claiming to be hosted by the Supreme Court, where he was accused of illegal activities and coerced into transferring funds for “verification.”
• Out of fear, the victim liquidated fixed deposits and transferred ₹72 lakh into an account provided by scammers.He later realised it was fraud after recalling similar news reports and filed a complaint with Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police.
• Authorities clarified there is no such thing as ‘digital arrest,’ stressing legal arrests require physical presence and proper warrants.
• Police urged citizens to avoid engaging with unsolicited calls or emails from individuals posing as officials and verify claims through their local police directly.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The case highlights growing concerns over sophisticated cyber crimes targeting vulnerable populations, especially senior citizens who might lack familiarity with advanced fraud tactics involving digital platforms. The scammers’ use of official-sounding roles like police officers and courts underlines the importance of educating citizens about the procedural norms followed by judicial authorities in India to combat misinformation effectively.

While HyderabadS Cyber Crime unit acted promptly after receiving the complaint, broader preventive measures-including public awareness campaigns-are crucial to reduce susceptibility to such scams across india’s diverse demography. Additionally,stricter regulatory checks on digital communication platforms like WhatsApp might deter their misuse for executing fraud schemes.

India’s accelerating shift towards digitisation could simultaneously increase risks associated with online financial crimes if corresponding safeguards are not scaled proportionately. A national-level strategy focusing on actionable guidelines for identifying potential scams could contribute significantly towards mitigating this threat while fostering safer cyber environments nationwide.

Read more: Published – August 29, 2025