`Digital arrest scam’: Criminals posing as cops accuse woman of child trafficking; extort Rs 1.5 Cr

Hyderabad: A 73-year-old woman from Bansilalpet in Hyderabad was cheated of Rs 1.5 crore after conmen threatened to `digitally arrest’ her on charges of child trafficking and money laundering.

Acting on her complaint, the city’s Cyber Crime Police registered a case and launched an investigation.

Call from Fake Police Officer

The ordeal began on October 22, when the victim received a phone call from a person who introduced himself as Akash Chaudhary from the Gandhinagar Police Station in Bengaluru.

The caller alleged that her Aadhaar card had been used in the illegal transportation and murder of 187 children. He warned her that a police team was on its way to arrest her.

Terrified, the elderly woman pleaded innocence. The fraudster then softened his tone, pretending to believe her, and said that if she cooperated, he could remove her name from the case.

Video call in Police Uniform

A short while later, another person appeared on a WhatsApp video call dressed in a police uniform. He sent her photographs claiming to be “evidence” of her involvement in women trafficking and money laundering. To make their story convincing, the scammers also showed fake CBI arrest warrants against her.

Trapped under ‘Digital Arrest’

The fraudsters claimed that Rs 3 crore had been deposited in her account and that Rs 30 lakh was commission from illegal transactions. They told her she was under “digital arrest” and instructed her not to step out of her house. Under psychological pressure, she followed their directions and transferred Rs 1.5 crore from her bank accounts to theirs.

Family intervention exposes fraud

The scam came to light when her daughter noticed large withdrawals from their joint account and alerted a family friend living in West Marredpally. When he visited the woman’s residence and questioned her, the truth emerged.

Police said the case highlights how cybercriminals are using intimidation tactics under the guise of “digital arrest” to target vulnerable individuals. Authorities have urged citizens not to share personal or financial information over unsolicited calls and to immediately report such incidents to the Cybercrime helpline (1930).