Mumbai: Retired Professor Loses ₹1.88 Crore in Digital Arrest Scam

Navi Mumbai: A 72-year-old retired professor from Mumbai University fell victim to a sophisticated digital scam, losing ₹1.88 crore. The fraudsters impersonated Supreme Court judges and officials from central law enforcement agencies, keeping the senior citizen under 'virtual arrest' through prolonged video calls.

The ordeal began on November 15 when a woman contacted the victim, claiming to be an official from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). She alleged that his Aadhaar card was linked to a SIM used for sending obscene messages. The scammers escalated the con by producing fake arrest warrants and conducting bogus court hearings online, pressuring the professor into transferring money over several transactions.

Authorities in Navi Mumbai are investigating the incident, urging the public to be cautious of such fraudulent schemes.