Pune Woman Loses Rs 1 Crore in ‘Digital Arrest’ Fraud
Wanowrie, 30th January 2025: A 75-year-old retired airline employee from Wanowrie fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme, losing Rs 1 crore between January 15 and 23. The scammers, posing as officials from the “Delhi Crime Branch,” placed her under a four-day “digital arrest” and threatened her with legal action in a fabricated money laundering case.
The victim, who lives alone in a Wanowrie bungalow, filed a complaint with the Pune Cyber Police on Wednesday after officials verified her application. According to the police, the woman, who is unmarried, has family members residing in different parts of the city.
Senior Inspector Swapnali Shinde of the Cyber Police revealed that the fraudsters contacted the victim through a messaging application. “The accused sent her a fake arrest warrant and fabricated case documents, claiming she was involved in money laundering. They instructed her to download a telecommunication app that allowed live video streaming and ordered her to remain seated in front of her phone’s camera at all times,” Shinde explained.
The scammers assured the victim they would help resolve the case and provided her with details of two bank accounts. “They convinced her to transfer money under the guise of assisting with the investigation. The victim visited her bank and made two RTGS transfers of Rs 50 lakh each to the fraudsters’ accounts,” Shinde added.
However, the demands did not stop there. “Even after receiving Rs 1 crore, the accused continued to pressure her for more money. When she expressed her inability to pay further, they instructed her to take a loan. It was at this point that the victim grew suspicious and decided to approach the police,” the officer stated.
This incident follows a similar case in December last year, where a 39-year-old woman was duped of Rs 43.5 lakh by cybercriminals impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch officials. The fraudsters had claimed her Aadhaar details were being used for money laundering and drug trafficking to Iran. After convincing her to download a malicious app, they stole her bank details under the pretext of verifying transactions.
The Pune Cyber Police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls or messages to authorities immediately. “Cybercriminals often exploit fear and urgency to manipulate victims. Always verify the authenticity of such claims with law enforcement before taking any action,” advised Inspector Shinde.
The investigation into the latest case is ongoing, with authorities working to trace the culprits and recover the stolen funds.
