Scammers Trick Mumbai Woman into Digital Arrest Fraud, Steal ₹21 Lakh

Navi Mumbai: A 32-year-old software engineer from Navi Mumbai fell victim to an elaborate digital arrest scam, losing ₹21 lakh. The incident unfolded on November 29, when the victim received a call from a man posing as a bank representative claiming a pending credit card bill of ₹1.68 lakh. The woman, who did not own a credit card, was then instructed to file a complaint with Ghatkopar police.

Minutes later, another scammer, posing as a police officer, accused her of being involved in money laundering through her Aadhar card and threatened her with arrest unless she complied with their instructions. She was told to record a statement via video call to clear her name, warning that not doing so would result in the arrest of her relatives.

Following this, she was contacted by another fraudster, pretending to be from the Enforcement Directorate, and coerced into transferring her savings and even taking a personal loan to transfer to a designated bank account. The scammers promised that her money would be returned within a week once their 'investigation' was completed.

However, after the scammer's refusal to return the funds, the woman realized she had been duped and approached the police. A case has been filed against the culprits for cheating, criminal breach of trust, intimidation, and using computer resources for impersonation.

This incident highlights the growing threat of cybercrimes involving fake law enforcement figures, making it crucial for the public to stay vigilant against such scams.