Delhi Police investigate Rs 14.85 Crore ‘Digital Arrest’ scam targeting NRI couple

An elderly Non-Resident Indian (NRI) couple from Greater Kailash-II, New Delhi, was allegedly defrauded of Rs 14.85 crore in a sophisticated online scam involving a tactic known as “digital arrest” , Delhi Police said on Sunday.

According to police, the 77-year-old woman reported that fraudsters posed as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) between December 24, 2025, and January 9, 2026 , claiming that her mobile number was linked to abusive calls and that black money had been detected in her bank accounts. She was allegedly told that she was under investigation for money laundering.

The scammers reportedly exerted continuous psychological pressure , warning her of immediate legal consequences and instructing her not to contact anyone else, a tactic commonly referred to as “digital arrest”. Under their direction, the victim transferred funds via RTGS to several bank accounts, resulting in a total loss of Rs 14.85 crore.

The victim, Dr Indra Taneja , said, “I am very shocked. Thankfully, we went to the police station and learned that we had been defrauded. All the drama they did was very convincing. They said they would help us.” Her husband, Dr Om Taneja , added, “They had a lot of information about us. There were three people involved, and they convinced us in such a way that, out of fear, we gave them all our information.”

The victim has lodged a complaint with the National Cybercrime Helpline (1930) and intends to submit a detailed written complaint in the presence of her counsel.

Delhi Police confirmed that an FIR has already been registered by the IFSO (Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations) unit. Upon receipt of the written complaint, the matter will be referred to the Cyber Crime Unit / IFSO for a detailed investigation. The probe will focus on tracing the fraudsters, identifying the bank accounts involved, analysing call records, and coordinating with banks to recover the funds . The case will be handled under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 , which provides legal recourse against cybercrimes such as online fraud, impersonation, and data theft.

Authorities caution that no government agency, including TRAI, can conduct arrests or investigations over phone or video calls. Citizens are urged not to share personal or banking information with unknown callers and report any suspicious activity to cybercrime helplines immediately.