In a shocking case that reveals the evolving sophistication of online fraud, a 68-year-old woman from Mumbai's western suburbs was swindled out of a staggering Rs 3.75 crore by scammers who orchestrated an elaborate 'digital arrest' and even staged a mock virtual court hearing featuring an impersonator of a Supreme Court judge.
The Elaborate Con: From Police Call to Virtual Court
The victim's harrowing ordeal began on August 18 when she received a call from someone claiming to be from the Colaba police station. The caller alleged that her bank account was linked to a massive Rs 6 crore money laundering case. Although the woman clarified she did not operate such an account, the fraudsters had already prepared a 'case number' and a detailed letter about the fictitious charges.
To prove her innocence, she was subjected to intense psychological pressure. The scammers forbade her from discussing the 'case' with anyone and threatened her with immediate arrest. Believing the threats, she submitted her bank details as instructed. She was then told she was under 24-hour surveillance and that her file was being transferred to the CBI.
An individual posing as 'Officer S K Jaiswal' took over the 'investigation'. In a bizarre twist aimed at building credibility, he asked her to write a 2-3 page essay about her life for character evaluation. After this, he claimed to be convinced of her innocence and promised she would get bail soon.
The Fake Court Hearing and the Final Blow
The scam reached its peak when a virtual court hearing was arranged. Over a video call, a man dressed in judicial robes appeared, posing as 'Justice Chandrachud'. This fake judge asked her about the money laundering case and, when she pleaded not guilty, dramatically 'rejected her bail'.
Under the guise of legal scrutiny, she was then ordered to submit all her wealth for examination and to redeem all her mutual funds. Terrified and convinced of the authenticity of the proceedings, the woman complied. Between August and October, she transferred a total of Rs 3.75 crore to accounts specified by the fraudsters.
Police Action and the Ongoing Challenge
The reality dawned only when she never received her money back. She finally approached the West Cyber Police to file a complaint. During the investigation, police traced a portion of the stolen funds to a bank account in Gujarat. They have since arrested a 46-year-old man from Gujarat for receiving a major chunk of the defrauded money.
However, the masterminds behind this sophisticated scheme remain at large. Police officials noted that the actual callers often operate from outside India, making it difficult for Indian law enforcement agencies to reach them directly. This case highlights a dangerous new trend where scammers are moving beyond simple impersonations of police officers (khaki-clad) to creating entire fictional legal ecosystems to defraud victims.
The incident serves as a critical warning for citizens, especially the elderly, to be extremely cautious of unsolicited calls alleging legal trouble and demanding money or personal financial details under threat of arrest.
