Mumbai Elderly Couple Defrauded of Rs 2.84 Crore in Sophisticated 'Digital Arrest' Scam
In a shocking case of cybercrime, a septuagenarian husband-wife duo from Mumbai was swindled out of a staggering Rs 2.84 crore by fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials. The elaborate scam, which unfolded over three months, involved threats that the wife's Aadhaar card had been seized from terrorists, leading to what police term a 'digital arrest'.
How the Scam Unfolded: A Tale of Deception and Fear
The 77-year-old husband, a share trader, and his 72-year-old wife, a retired senior personal assistant from the state government's cooperative and marketing department, reside in Kanjur Marg. Their ordeal began on December 16 when an unknown caller contacted the wife, identifying himself as Police Inspector Ranjit Kumar from Mumbai Police Headquarters.
The caller alleged that the wife's Aadhaar card had been linked to the bank account of a terrorist organization, claiming the matter was under investigation by the Lucknow Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Frightened, the wife immediately informed her husband. Shortly after, the husband received a call from a person claiming to be Premkumar Gautam from Lucknow ATS, who stated that 90 terrorists had been arrested and the wife's Aadhaar was seized from one of them.
The Escalation: Fake NIA Involvement and Forged Documents
The fraudsters then escalated the ruse by introducing a fake senior officer, Ajay Srivastava, who contacted the couple. Srivastava claimed that Rs 70 lakh had been deposited into the wife's bank account and that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was handling further probes. To add credibility, he sent WhatsApp documents titled 'Confidentiality Agreement' bearing the NIA logo, including one with a forged signature of an RBI deputy governor.
The couple was instructed to message 'We are safe with national security' every four hours, creating a sense of constant surveillance. Srivastava also messaged the complainant on the Signal app, scheduling a meeting with the fake NIA chief. During a WhatsApp call, this impersonator demanded all the couple's money for 'verification', promising its return after examination.
The Financial Drain and Police Action
Believing the threats, the elderly couple transferred Rs 2.84 crore in nine transactions to the fraudsters. It was only when the money was not returned that they realized they had been duped. On March 23, they visited the NIA office at Peddar Road in central Mumbai, where they were directed to the cyber police station.
The East cyber police station registered an FIR on March 24 against eight unidentified persons. The charges include cheating, forgery, extortion under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and identity theft under the Information Technology Act. The crime period is noted between December 16 last year and March 23 this year.
Family Background and Broader Implications
The couple has two sons, one of whom works abroad, highlighting how scammers often target vulnerable elderly individuals. This case underscores the growing menace of 'digital arrest' scams, where fraudsters use technology and psychological manipulation to exploit victims remotely.
Authorities are investigating the sophisticated use of forged documents and communication apps like WhatsApp and Signal to perpetrate the fraud. The incident serves as a stark warning about the need for public awareness and robust cybersecurity measures to combat such crimes.
