A 62-year-old retired nurse from Visakhapatnam lost nearly Rs 45 lakh to cybercriminals who impersonated police and CBI officers in a sophisticated digital arrest fraud. The scammers contacted the woman, claiming to be from the department of communication, and falsely alleged that her Aadhaar details were being used by criminals for illegal activities in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and other cities.
Threats of Arrest and Interrogation
The fraudsters threatened the woman that a case had been registered against her for involvement in human trafficking and other crimes, and that the CBI and cybercrime police in Bengaluru were investigating. They warned that a court warrant would be issued, leading to her arrest, and demanded she travel to Bengaluru for interrogation. When the elderly woman denied involvement and expressed inability to travel, the scammers made a WhatsApp video call to record her statement.
Money Transfer Under False Pretenses
Instructing her not to disclose the matter to anyone due to the ongoing investigation, the cybercrooks asked for her bank details to verify financial transactions. They then directed her to transfer money to accounts they provided, assuring her the funds would be returned after verification. Trusting the fraudsters, the nurse transferred approximately Rs 45 lakh in multiple transactions. When the scammers continued demanding more money, she realized the deception and filed a complaint at the Visakhapatnam cybercrime police station.
Elderly Citizens as Easy Targets
Police noted that senior citizens are increasingly vulnerable to such digital arrest scams due to their trusting nature, limited digital awareness, loneliness (often with children living in other cities), financial stability, and lack of immediate support. Authorities urge the public to verify any such calls through official channels and never share personal or financial information with unknown callers.
