‘Digital Arrest’: Pune Woman Duped of Rs 97.5 Lakh in Cyber Fraud; Retired Officer Loses Rs 34 Lakh in Similar Racket

Pune, 28th September 2025: A 67-year-old homemaker from Karvenagar has fallen prey to a cyber fraud in which scammers posing as Mumbai crime branch officials cheated her of ₹97.5 lakh over two weeks in July.

According to the complaint filed with the Pune cybercrime police, the fraudsters threatened the woman with arrest by claiming her Aadhaar and bank account details had been misused in a multi-crore money laundering racket.

Senior Inspector Swapnali Shinde of the cybercrime cell said, “The woman is a homemaker. Her two sons live in the USA and regularly send her money. The fraudsters exploited this situation to create fear and convince her.”

The suspects reportedly contacted her through a video call while dressed in police uniforms. They alleged her name was linked to a ₹200-crore laundering case and warned she could be taken into custody. “While initially intimidating her, they gradually offered to ‘help’ if she transferred money to settle the matter. Believing their claims, she transferred ₹97.5 lakh into four different bank accounts,” Shinde added.

The victim only realised the fraud after speaking to her sons, who immediately advised her to approach the police.

Retired Officer Duped of ₹34 Lakh

In another case, a 68-year-old retired transport department officer from Swargate was conned by fraudsters using the same modus operandi.

Senior Inspector Yashwant Nikam of Swargate police said, “The scammers posed as personnel from the Delhi crime branch and warned the victim of arrest in a money laundering case. He ended up transferring ₹34 lakh, which included most of his retirement savings.”

Fortunately, before sending more money, the retired officer discussed the matter with a friend, who alerted him that it was a fraud. He then lodged a complaint.

Both cases are under investigation, and police have appealed to citizens not to respond to calls or video calls from people claiming to be law enforcement officials demanding money.