Senior Woman Loses Rs 1.20 Crore in 12-Day Digital Arrest Scam

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Senior Woman Loses Rs 1.20 Crore in 12-Day ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam, Accused Held

The Scam Unfolds

A man from West Bengal’s Malda district has been detained by the Uttarakhand Special Task Force for allegedly facilitating a cyber fraud targeting a senior woman from Almora. The victim reportedly lost Rs 1.20 crore over 12 days after being manipulated through persistent calls and false threats of legal action.

False Threats and Manipulation

The victim filed a complaint with cybercrime authorities in January 2026, detailing interactions with unidentified individuals who contacted her in December 2025. These callers falsely claimed to represent a telecom regulatory authority, asserting that her Aadhaar card was linked to a Canara Bank account involved in money laundering activities.

They alleged the account was associated with Rs 60 crore in transactions and claimed 5,000 individuals had transferred funds through it, while also stating 5,000 FIRs had been filed against her. Through threats of arrest and prosecution, the fraudsters compelled the woman to remain in continuous communication for 12 days, restricting her from contacting family, friends, or law enforcement.

Funds Transfer and Digital Trails

They subsequently pressured her to transfer funds to multiple accounts under the pretense of verifying her banking details. Investigations by cybercrime units revealed digital trails leading to the suspect. Authorities obtained data from banks, telecom providers, and Meta, analyzing technical evidence to trace bank accounts and mobile numbers linked to the scheme.

This process identified a financial account connected to the fraud, which was used to receive and redistribute the stolen funds.

Investigation and Arrest

The Suspect and Financial Links

Shantanu Das, a resident of Gopalpur village in Malda’s English Bazar police station area, was arrested after investigators confirmed his account was used to process the illicit transactions. According to STF Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh, funds obtained from the victim were credited to Das’s account before being transferred to other linked accounts.

“Police are currently examining additional financial records and exploring potential involvement of other individuals in the scheme. The STF is investigating the roles of other account holders and suspects to uncover the full scope of the operation.”

Ongoing Investigations

Police are currently examining additional financial records and exploring potential involvement of other individuals in the scheme. The STF is investigating the roles of other account holders and suspects to uncover the full scope of the operation.