Second Major Digital Arrest Scam Strikes Delhi's Greater Kailash
Delhi Police reported another shocking digital arrest case from Greater Kailash I. This incident marks the second major fraud of this type in the same upscale neighborhood within just one week.
Seventy-Year-Old Widow Targeted by Impersonators
Police identified the victim as Meenakshi Ahuja, a 70-year-old widowed homemaker. She lives alone on the first floor of a family-owned duplex bungalow in W Block. Her brother-in-law and his son occupy the ground floor of the same property.
Meenakshi's husband, a businessman, passed away years ago. Her son currently resides in Australia while her daughter lives in Gurgaon. This family situation made her particularly vulnerable to the sophisticated scam.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
The fraudulent activity began on January 6 when Meenakshi received a call from a man claiming to be a Mumbai Police officer. He informed her that a mobile number registered in her name had been used to obtain SIM cards for illegal activities.
The caller carefully built rapport by asking about her life, family background, and assets. He then transferred the call to another man who pretended to be an Enforcement Directorate officer.
This second impersonator told Meenakshi that the SIM cards were involved in a money-laundering case. He insisted she would need to travel to Mumbai immediately to address the situation.
The "Verification Process" Trap
When Meenakshi expressed fear and confusion, the scammer offered a solution. He said the matter could be resolved through a court-ordered "verification process." This false procedure became the mechanism for extracting massive amounts of money.
On January 9, Meenakshi made her first transfer of Rs 4 crore. Within hours, the scammers demanded and received a second RTGS transfer of Rs 1.3 crore.
Bank officials handling Meenakshi's accounts noticed irregularities and questioned her about the transactions. However, the scammers had warned her to keep everything confidential. She told bank staff the transfers were for her daughter as part of a property settlement.
The Final Demand and Realization
The fraudsters made their final demand on January 12. They coerced Meenakshi into transferring another Rs 1.6 crore. They assured her she would receive all the money back once the "verification process" completed.
After this third transfer, the scammers vanished completely. They never contacted Meenakshi again. She waited for a day before realizing she had been cheated. She filed a formal complaint with Delhi Police on Wednesday.
Pattern of Similar Scams Emerging
This case represents the second major digital arrest scam reported from Greater Kailash within a single week. Earlier, an elderly couple was allegedly duped of approximately Rs 14.85 crore through similar tactics.
Police investigators note that these scams follow a consistent pattern. Criminals impersonate law enforcement officials to create fear and urgency. They then invent official-sounding procedures to extract money from vulnerable targets.
The increasing frequency of such sophisticated cyber crimes highlights the need for greater public awareness. Senior citizens living alone appear particularly at risk from these well-organized criminal operations.
