Six Arrested in ₹24 Crore Elderly Woman Psychological Online Scam Case

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Bank Staff Alerts Lead to Arrests in ₹24 Crore Digital Arrest Scam

A sophisticated “digital arrest” scam led to the arrest of six individuals after a 74-year-old retired teacher from Bengaluru transferred ₹24 crore over four months.

The case began when a private bank manager flagged suspicious transactions to authorities, prompting an investigation that uncovered a well-organized network of cybercriminals operating across state lines.

According to investigators, the scammers impersonated senior officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), claiming the victim was involved in a money laundering case and was under surveillance.

The elderly woman was subjected to intense psychological pressure, prompting her to comply with the scammers’ demands. Between February 10 and March 24, the victim made 26 separate transfers totaling ₹24 crore, routing the money through 23 mule accounts across various banks in different states.

The police investigation revealed that the scammers gathered detailed information about the victim’s financial background and recent property sale, which they used to build targeted psychological pressure.
The authorities have since frozen several mule accounts, recovering around ₹4 crore and blocking another ₹1.46 crore.
The remaining funds are believed to have been laundered through multiple transactions to conceal their trail.

Cyber experts describe “digital arrest” as a growing type of fraud where perpetrators impersonate government agencies and manipulate victims through video calls, messages, and fabricated legal threats.

Former IPS officer and renowned cybercrime expert, Professor Triveni Singh, comments that these scams rely heavily on authority impersonation and emotional engineering, exploiting victims’ trust and psychological vulnerabilities rather than relying on technical hacking.

Law enforcement faces significant challenges in addressing this type of crime, as victims often struggle to differentiate between authentic and fake government communications.

Police are currently analyzing phone records, call detail records, and banking transactions to identify additional suspects involved in the scam and uncover its broader scope.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and verify any financial or legal claims through official channels before taking action. Further arrests are expected once digital forensic analysis is completed.