Elderly Hyderabad woman loses ₹1.5 crore to ‘digital arrest’ cyber scam
HYDERABAD: Police have warned citizens to remain alert against a rising wave of “digital arrest” cyber frauds in which criminals impersonate law enforcement officers and extort money by threatening arrest over fabricated cases.
According to officials, the scam has recently claimed ₹1.50 crore from an older woman in Hyderabad. The victim was coerced into transferring the money after being falsely accused of involvement in money laundering and human trafficking offences.
Scammers exploit fear and isolation
The modus operandi involves fraudsters posing as officers of the Police or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and contacting victims through phone or WhatsApp video calls. They claim that the victim’s Aadhaar or bank account is linked to crimes such as money laundering, human trafficking, or organ trading.
The callers then create panic by threatening immediate arrest unless the victim transfers funds for “verification” or “bail”. In many cases, they also isolate victims from family members during prolonged video calls to prevent consultation.
No such thing as a digital arrest, police clarify
Police have reiterated that no government agency demands money for verification, investigation, or bail. “There is no legal provision for digital arrest. No one can be arrested over a phone call,” officials emphasised, urging citizens not to share personal or banking details with unknown callers.
People are advised to avoid joining video calls from unknown numbers claiming to be from police departments. Any suspicious communication should be reported immediately to the national helpline 1930 or via the official portal www.cybercrime.gov.in.
