In the name of digital arrest, an elderly woman was cheated of Rs 60.5 lakhs, and money was taken by mortgaging 52 tola gold.
Mumbai A shocking case of cyber fraud has come to light from Mumbai, the financial capital of Maharashtra. Here, a 68-year-old retired woman living in Kanjurmarg East was made a victim of fraud of Rs 60.5 lakh by cyber criminals by threatening her with digital arrest. The accused, posing as police officers, threatened to arrest the woman in a money laundering case. After this, he extorted a huge amount from the woman by threatening her with arrest and legal action. It is alleged that cyber thugs forced the elderly woman to pledge up to 52 tola gold in addition to her savings. After this, the amount received by mortgaging the gold was also transferred to different bank accounts.
This incident has once again highlighted the seriousness of cyber fraud being done in the name of digital arrest. The thugs used the name of a government department and a police officer to trap an elderly woman.
First call came on 28th September
According to the FIR lodged, the victim is a retired employee of Maharashtra Credit Cooperative Society. She lives in Kanjurmarg East area of Mumbai. On 28 September 2026, he received a call from an unknown person on his mobile phone.
The caller revealed his name as Ajay Sharma and claimed that he was calling from the Data Protection Department. He told the woman that 20 people had filed complaints against him. The woman got scared after hearing this.
The caller told the woman that the matter was serious and she should immediately contact Panchvati police station in Nashik. In this way, the accused tried to put pressure on the woman in the beginning by threatening her with legal action.
Threatened to arrest by posing as a police officer
According to the complaint, the thugs, posing as police officers, tried to make the woman believe that her name had come up in a case related to money laundering.
The accused told the woman that if she did not follow the instructions, she could be arrested. In this way, cyber criminals made the threat of alleged investigation and arrest a weapon of fraud.
In this case, the accused took the help of the name of police and government department, due to which the elderly woman fell into their trap.
Forced to pledge 52 tola gold
The most shocking aspect of this cyber fraud is that the woman was asked to pledge 52 tola gold. The accused continuously put pressure on the woman and asked her to raise money.
According to the complaint, fearing arrest, the woman mortgaged her gold and transferred the amount received from it to the bank accounts specified by the accused.
This amount proved to be a huge financial loss for the woman. This way of using the jewelery kept for life savings and financial security of the family after retirement, shows the well-planned method of cyber criminals.
Total fraud of Rs 60.5 lakh
According to the FIR, the accused cheated the woman of a total of Rs 60 lakh 50 thousand. To obtain this huge amount, the criminals allegedly feared legal action.
In this case, an attempt was made to convince the woman that by sending money she could avoid legal trouble. However, there is no legitimate process for depositing money in bank accounts in the name of digital arrest by the police or any investigating agency.
Such threats are part of the fraud tactics of cyber criminals.
Fake sub-inspector claimed arrest warrant
After Ajay Sharma, another person identified himself as Sub-Inspector Sandeep Rao in the case. He claimed that an arrest warrant has been issued against the woman. She also said that 247 senior citizens have been arrested in similar cases.
The accused also asked the woman not to give information to anyone and not to keep her phone number safe. In this way an attempt was made to stop the woman from taking help from family and acquaintances.
Took loan of Rs 25 lakh by taking out gold from bank locker
On September 29, the alleged police officer asked the woman for information about her family, bank accounts and gold jewellery. After this, instructions were given to remove the gold from the bank locker and send its photographs.
The woman contacted the Muthoot Finance office in Vikhroli. According to the complaint, he got a loan of Rs 25 lakh against the pledge of 52 tola gold due to the limit prescribed by the company.
Transfer money from bank through video call
The accused asked the woman to remain on video call while going to the bank. Also, when asked by the bank employees, he was instructed to tell that the money was needed for the construction of his son’s house.
The woman transferred money from her accounts in State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank on October 1, 3 and 6. This also included his life savings. The accused claimed that the amount was deposited in the Reserve Bank of India and would be returned later.
But after October 6, the accused stopped contacting the woman. On October 12 and 13, the woman called him, but received no response.
Complaint on cyber helpline, investigation started
Realizing that she was cheated, the woman lodged a complaint on cyber helpline number 1930 on October 14. He provided bank transaction details and payment related documents.
After this, Mumbai’s East Cyber Police registered an FIR and started the process of freezing the suspicious bank accounts. At present, no concrete information has been revealed regarding the recovery of money and arrest of the accused.
Take precautions to avoid cyber fraud
Digital arrest is not a valid legal process. Police or investigating agencies can digital arrest a citizen through video call.