An elderly non-resident Indian (NRI) couple, who dedicated their lives to public service in the United States and later to charity in India, fell victim to a devastating cyber fraud, losing close to Rs 15 crore. The sophisticated scam involved perpetrators posing as law enforcement officials who subjected the couple to a terrifying 'digital arrest' for over two weeks.
The Victims: A Life of Service Targeted
Dr Om Taneja, 81, and his wife Dr Indra Taneja, 77, residents of Greater Kailash-2 in New Delhi, had spent nearly five decades in the United States before returning to India in 2015. Dr Om Taneja, an IIT alumnus, served with the United Nations and the US federal government. Dr Indra Taneja was a former professor and doctor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey. In India, they focused on charitable work through their trust, providing healthcare and education to underprivileged children.
The Ordeal: A 17-Day Digital Kidnapping
The couple's nightmare began on December 24 with a phone call from individuals claiming to be officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The callers alleged that over 20 complaints had been filed against the Tanejas for circulating obscene videos and involvement in money laundering. They warned that First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged and their arrest was imminent.
To make the threat seem authentic, the scammers connected the couple via a video call to what they pretended was the Colaba police station in Mumbai. Individuals dressed in police uniforms appeared on the call. They showed Indra a photograph of an industrialist, falsely claiming he was involved in a Rs 500-crore fraud and that her thumb impression had been used to open a bank account linked to the case. They escalated the fear by alleging the person was working against national security and defence, making the Tanejas suspects.
"They told us that the person involved in the fraud was working against national security and defence, and that we were suspects. They said we would be arrested and ordered us to visit Mumbai immediately," Indra recounted. When she explained her husband's recent surgery made travel impossible, they instructed her to write a letter to the Supreme Court.
Constant Surveillance and Psychological Manipulation
The fraudsters placed the couple under relentless video surveillance, keeping a video call active day and night. Although the scammers' video was on mute, they monitored every movement. "If I moved my phone even to the bedroom, they would immediately ask what was happening. They were watching all our movements," the couple said. They were forbidden from disclosing the matter to anyone, under the threat of endangering their lives.
The scammers staged an elaborate fake legal proceeding, complete with a person posing as a judge, and frequently referenced court orders. They also appeared to monitor the couple's phone calls with family. The Tanejas were forced to disclose all their bank account details under the threat of having their funds frozen, with a false promise of refund after 'verification'.
The Financial Bleed and Eventual Realization
Under this intense psychological pressure, the couple began transferring their life savings. Before each bank visit, Indra was meticulously coached on what to tell bank staff if questioned about the large transactions. By January 9, they had been defrauded of over Rs 14 crore. Even then, the scammers demanded another Rs 50 lakh, which Indra deposited.
The scam finally began to unravel when the video connection suddenly went off. On January 10, the fraudsters contacted them again, claiming their names were cleared and that the Reserve Bank of India had issued a clearance letter. They instructed the couple to visit their nearest police station. It was only when Indra physically went to the police station that the horrifying truth dawned on them—they had been victims of an elaborate cyber crime.
The case highlights the alarming rise of sophisticated 'digital arrest' scams targeting vulnerable and elderly citizens, using fear and authority to orchestrate massive financial theft.
