One more Digital scam, same fear tactic: Senior citizen duped of ₹30 lakh

Unidentified cyber fraudsters duped a 67-year-old woman of nearly ₹30 lakh by falsely claiming that her name had surfaced in a terrorism-related investigation and placing her under a so-called “digital arrest” , police said on Friday.

According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotiya, the woman received a call on November 23 from a man who introduced himself as a Superintendent of Police posted in Jammu and Kashmir . The caller claimed that a mobile phone seized from a terrorist had revealed clues to a ₹2,300 crore money-laundering operation , and alleged that the woman’s bank account had been used in the transactions.

The fraudster further told her that she had allegedly received ₹1.50 crore as part of the laundering activity and warned that she would be arrested if she failed to cooperate. To avoid legal action, the woman was instructed to transfer her money to so-called “government accounts” for verification.

Frightened by the threat, the woman who lives alone while her two sons are abroad continued to follow the fraudster’s instructions. Between November 23 and December 3 , she transferred around ₹30 lakh from her savings to multiple accounts, police said.

“She was kept under constant fear and pressure. Because of the threats, she did not inform anyone for several days,” the officer said. The fraud came to light only after she confided in her daughter and son-in-law, following which a police complaint was filed. A probe is currently underway.

“Digital arrest” is a growing form of cyber fraud in which scammers pose as police or investigating officers and intimidate victims through phone or video calls. Victims are falsely accused of serious crimes such as terrorism, money laundering or drug trafficking and are coerced into transferring money online to avoid arrest. Police have repeatedly clarified that no law enforcement agency conducts arrests or seeks payments over phone or video calls .

India has seen a steep rise in cyber fraud cases over the past few years. Government data shows that digital arrest scams have increased sharply , with the number of reported cases jumping several times between 2022 and 2024. Financial losses from such frauds now run into thousands of crores of rupees annually , reflecting the growing scale and sophistication of cybercrime.

Overall, cybercrime complaints in India number in the millions each year , with online financial frauds forming a significant share of these cases.

Studies indicate that individuals in the 30 to 60 age group are the most frequently targeted in digital arrest and similar cyber frauds, as they are financially active and often use online banking and digital services. However, elderly people, especially those living alone, remain highly vulnerable due to fear, isolation and limited awareness of evolving cybercrime tactics.

Police have urged citizens to remain alert and remember that no government official will demand money or conduct investigations through calls or video conferencing . Any such calls should be immediately disconnected and reported to the nearest police station or cybercrime helpline.

As cybercriminals continue to exploit fear and digital dependence, authorities stress that public awareness and timely reporting are crucial to preventing such scams.