In a chilling case of cybercrime that highlights the growing sophistication of online fraud, an elderly couple from Pune was swindled of a staggering Rs 89.95 lakh after being trapped in a prolonged 'digital arrest' scam. The fraudsters, posing as high-ranking officials, coerced the victims into signing a fake 'affidavit of secrecy' under the guise of national security, systematically draining their life savings over six weeks.
The Anatomy of a Sophisticated Scam
The ordeal began in the last week of September when the 79-year-old retired central government officer received a call from a man pretending to be an officer from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller falsely claimed that a mobile number registered in the complainant's name was linked to 24 criminal activities and that a joint probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Mumbai Police Cyber Crime branch was underway.
The plot thickened with a follow-up call from an individual identifying himself as 'IPS Officer Vijay Khanna'. He escalated the threat, warning the elderly man of imminent arrest in cases that included a fabricated Rs 2 crore money laundering charge. The baton was then passed to another fraudster, 'IPS officer Sandeep Rao', who instructed the couple to divulge all their personal and financial details, claiming their accounts would be scrutinized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Coercion, Secrecy, and Financial Ruin
The scammers then executed a masterstroke of psychological manipulation. They forced the terrified couple to sign a so-called 'affidavit of secrecy', threatening them with arrest if they disclosed the 'investigation' to anyone, branding it a matter of 'national security'. Under this digital siege, the victims were methodically stripped of their wealth.
From September end to the first week of November, the couple was compelled to make 12 separate transactions, funneling money into multiple mule accounts they were told belonged to the RBI. To meet the relentless demands, they were forced to liquidate their mutual fund investments, shares, and savings. When these resources were exhausted, the fraudsters pressed them to take a gold loan to continue payments, falsely promising it would clear their names.
"The couple was kept under the impression they were rather being helped by 'officers' to get their names cleared from this phoney investigation," the report noted, underscoring the cruel deceit.
The Wake-Up Call and Official Response
The scam unraveled only when, after handing over the gold loan proceeds, the fraudsters demanded even more money. The complainant approached his son for funds, which raised immediate suspicion. Upon learning the harrowing details, the son realized his parents had been brutally cheated and urged them to approach the police.
Following a preliminary probe, the Cyber Crime police in Pune registered an FIR. This case has reignited concerns among officials about the persistence of such elaborate scams despite widespread awareness campaigns. Criminals impersonating police, CBI, Narcotics officials, RBI or Enforcement Directorate officers, and even judges, continue to target citizens across India.
The issue, which has been highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 'Mann Ki Baat' address, often involves sophisticated cross-border networks. These syndicates use layers of domestic mule accounts to channel victims' money before moving it to global cybercrime operations, frequently via cryptocurrency, making recovery nearly impossible.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for citizens, especially the elderly, to verify the credentials of anyone making unsolicited contact with serious allegations. No legitimate government agency will demand secrecy, ask for money to settle cases, or conduct investigations solely over video calls, pressuring victims into a state of 'digital arrest.'
