Mumbai Senior Citizen Loses Flat in Prolonged Digital Arrest Scam
In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a 78-year-old man from Mulund (West), Mumbai, was subjected to a "digital arrest" for two full months. During this period, fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials coerced him into selling his apartment for a mere Rs 1.16 crore, despite its actual market value exceeding Rs 2.5 crore, according to police reports.
Fraudsters Impersonate Multiple Agencies with Threats
The scammers warned the victim, identified as PM Mathai (name changed), not to inform anyone about the situation. They threatened him with arrest and even death, falsely claiming his name had surfaced in a money laundering case involving Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, which is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate.
Realizing he had been duped, Mathai eventually approached the East Region Cyber police station. He filed a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown persons for impersonating officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Cyber Crime units, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Telecom Department, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and other agencies.
Elaborate Forgery and Coercive Tactics Uncovered
Among five fraudulent documents received via WhatsApp, one included an arrest warrant bearing signatures and a stamp of retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Daya Nayak. The scammers falsely presented Nayak as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber) investigating Mathai's case, along with an assistant director named Niraj Kumar.
The threatening calls began on December 26, when Mathai, at home, received a WhatsApp call from an unknown number. The caller identified himself as CBI officer Vijay Khanna. "The person claimed my name came up in a money laundering case committed by Jet Airways's Naresh Goyal. He said an account had been opened in my name at a nationalized bank and about Rs 2 crore had been laundered. Khanna told me I would be arrested," Mathai stated in the FIR.
Fearing for their safety, Mathai and his wife kept the matter hidden from their two daughters, who work abroad. The fraudsters had threatened to kill both parents if they did not transfer money for "verification purposes." The situation escalated until Mathai finally confided in his friend Prakash Padikkal, a member of the Hillside Residents' Welfare Association (HIRWA), this week when he began fearing for his family's lives.
Family in Distress Despite Police Intervention
Mathai's daughters, who flew back to Mumbai from abroad upon learning of the fraud, remain deeply worried about potential harm, even though a formal police complaint has been registered. The elderly couple's ordeal highlights the severe emotional and financial toll of such scams.
The East Region cyber police have taken swift action, managing to freeze several bank accounts and block approximately Rs 17 lakh. "The team has contacted the bank's nodal officers to freeze all accounts to which the money was transferred. Meanwhile, we are tracking the individuals involved in the case," stated a cyber officer involved in the investigation.
Alarming Rise in Digital Arrest Fraud Across Maharashtra
State Cyber Cell data reveals a distressing trend: victims of digital arrest fraud in Maharashtra have lost a staggering Rs 313 crore in 2025 alone. Police efforts have managed to save Rs 19 crore from being siphoned off by criminals.
DIG (State-Cyber) Sanjay Shintre emphasized, "No genuine officer will ever ask for money or threaten you on a video call. Your silence helps the criminal—your action protects others." Former Mumbai Police Commissioner D Sivanandhan noted that advisories from the RBI and government are often not heeded by elderly victims, making them particularly vulnerable to such sophisticated scams.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of cybercrime targeting senior citizens, urging heightened vigilance and prompt reporting to authorities.
