Mumbai: A 71-year-old retired executive living in Mahim lost Rs 6.3 crore after alleged fraudsters posing as police and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials kept her under a so-called 'digital arrest' for more than two months, according to a case registered by Mumbai's Central Cyber Police. Police said several mule accounts used to receive the money have been frozen, securing Rs 2.75 crore of the amount transferred.

Source: Mirror Now

According to the reports, the ordeal began on September 3, when the woman received a WhatsApp video call from a man who identified himself as Sandeep Rao, a sub-inspector with the Nashik police. The caller allegedly told her that her Aadhaar card had been used to open a Canara Bank account in Nashik that was linked to a money-laundering operation, and she was later connected to other callers who allegedly posed as a man named Anil Kumar and as IPS officer Vishwas Nangare Patil. She was also allegedly shown a fabricated ED arrest warrant.

Source: Urban Acres

Between September 5 and November 6, the woman allegedly transferred Rs 6.3 crore through eight separate RTGS transactions to eight bank accounts. The callers had allegedly promised that the money would be released after a supposed investigation.

Helpline call, case on November 9, Rs 2.75 crore frozen

The woman contacted the national cyber helpline, 1930, on November 7 after the money was not returned. Following her report, the Central Cyber Police registered a case on November 9. Police said they have frozen several mule accounts and secured Rs 2.75 crore, while about Rs 3.55 crore remains unaccounted for.

Source: Mirror Now

The investigation is continuing to trace the remaining money, the eight recipient accounts and the wider network behind the alleged fraud, police said. No arrests were reported in the accounts of the case published on Saturday.

Police and cyber-safety advisories cited in the reporting remind the public that fraudsters in 'digital arrest' scams impersonate law-enforcement officials on video calls to isolate and pressure victims into transferring money, and that anyone receiving such a call should report it immediately on the 1930 helpline.