In a disturbing trend of cyber crime targeting senior citizens, two elderly residents from Pune have collectively lost a staggering Rs 1.1 crore in separate cases of digital arrest that occurred between October and November. The sophisticated scams involved fraudsters posing as officers from Mumbai police and CBI, who manipulated their victims into transferring life savings under false pretenses.
The Rs 90 Lakh Kalyaninagar Nightmare
A 79-year-old retired Central government employee from Kalyaninagar fell victim to an elaborate scam that began in September. According to his complaint filed at the Pune cyber police station, the elderly man received an initial call from someone claiming to represent TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India). The caller falsely informed him that his mobile number had been used to issue threats, with 24 complaints registered against it.
The situation escalated when the victim was connected to individuals posing as officers from Mumbai cyber police and later the CBI. They fabricated a story claiming his bank account was involved in money laundering activities and that he had received an illegal commission of Rs 25 lakh. Under this false narrative, the fraudsters systematically extracted his banking details and those of his wife.
The manipulation reached extreme levels when the scammers convinced the senior citizen to mortgage his gold jewelry and liquidate his investments. The victim sold his shares, mutual funds, and broke his fixed deposits, ultimately transferring Rs 90 lakh to bank accounts provided by the criminals. The fraudsters promised to return the money within two days, but when the funds never materialized, the victim grew suspicious and consulted his son, who immediately advised approaching the police.
The Pashan Resident's Close Call
In a parallel incident, an 80-year-old resident of Pashan lost Rs 20 lakh between November 19 and 20. The scam nearly cost him an additional Rs 17 lakh when alert bank intervention prevented further financial damage. The bank manager, noticing suspicious activity, disconnected a video call through which the fraudster was monitoring the elderly man and suggested immediate police intervention.
This case began with fraudsters contacting the elderly man and accusing him of sending obscene messages. When the victim denied these allegations, he was directed to contact what he believed was the cyber police in Mumbai. The scammers then conducted a video call with someone appearing in police uniform, adding credibility to their deception.
The fraudsters escalated their threats by claiming the victim's Aadhaar card was used for money laundering and terrorist activities. They fabricated a story about arresting the head of a terror outfit who allegedly identified the elderly man as one of the organization's funders. Under the threat of facing a jail term of one-and-a-half years, the senior citizen was coerced into sharing his bank account details and transferring money to specified accounts with promises of returning the funds within three days.
Growing Pattern of Digital Arrest Scams
These incidents highlight an alarming pattern of digital arrest scams targeting vulnerable senior citizens in urban areas. The fraudsters employ psychological manipulation, creating fear and urgency to prevent victims from seeking verification from family members or legitimate authorities.
Both cases share common characteristics that should raise red flags:
- Unsolicited calls from unknown numbers claiming to be from government agencies
- False accusations of criminal activity involving the victim's identity documents
- Transfer of calls between multiple fake officials to create authenticity
- Threats of legal action and imprisonment to create panic
- Demands for money transfers under the guise of verification or protection
The Pune police have registered separate complaints at both the Pune cyber police and Chatushrungi police stations. These cases serve as a crucial warning for families with elderly members to educate them about such sophisticated cyber crimes and establish verification protocols for any unexpected financial requests.
