A 57-year-old tech professional from Bengaluru has reportedly lost ₹31.83 crore in a highly orchestrated “digital arrest” scam. Fraudsters impersonating CBI officers coerced her into submitting financial data and transferring money through 187 bank transactions under the threat of arrest. She was allegedly kept on constant Skype surveillance for six months. The case was filed only recently with the Cyber Crime (CEN) police
Bengaluru has been shaken by one of its biggest cyber-fraud cases after a 57-year-old IT professional was duped into transferring ₹31.83 crore over six months in what police describe as a highly coordinated “digital arrest” scam.
According to the complaint filed with the Cyber Crime (CEN) Police, the woman was first contacted in September 2024 by someone posing as a courier company executive who claimed that a suspicious parcel linked to her identity had been seized. The call was then routed to individuals impersonating CBI officers, who accused her of being involved in financial crimes and warned her that an arrest warrant was imminent.
Under intense psychological pressure, the woman was told she was now under a “digital arrest” and forced to remain available on constant Skype video calls. The scammers instructed her not to speak to anyone, including family or lawyers, claiming that her communications were being “monitored for security reasons.”
Over the following months, the fraudsters manipulated her into liquidating savings, fixed deposits, and investments, eventually coercing her into making 187 separate bank transfers amounting to nearly ₹32 crore. To maintain control, they issued her a fake “clearance certificate” and continued the threats until abruptly cutting contact in March 2025.
The woman, who said she was traumatized and also dealing with her son’s wedding and health issues, filed a police complaint only in November 2025 after realizing she had been trapped in an elaborate scam.
Authorities have now opened a detailed investigation, noting that the scale and method of the fraud indicate involvement of a well-organized cybercrime syndicate. Officers say similar cases have surfaced across India, where criminals leverage fear of law-enforcement agencies to force victims into compliance.
Police have urged the public to remain alert, stressing that no government agency conducts arrests or investigations over phone calls, messaging apps, or video platforms, and that threats demanding money transfers are a clear sign of fraud. The investigation is ongoing, with cybercrime officials tracking the trail of transactions and communication channels used by the scammers
