Mumbai: A 72-year-old businessman from Mumbai has allegedly fallen victim to one of the biggest ‘digital arrest’ scams in India, losing a staggering ₹58 crore to cybercriminals posing as officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), police said on Thursday.
According to the Maharashtra Cyber Department, which is probing the case, three men have been arrested in connection with the fraud. Officials said the ₹58 crore loss could be one of the largest reported in a ‘digital arrest’ scam targeting an individual.
‘Digital arrest’ is an emerging form of cybercrime where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or government officials to intimidate victims through video or audio calls. They often threaten legal action and force victims to transfer money, claiming it is needed for investigation or bail.
In this case, the fraudsters contacted the businessman between August 19 and October 8, alleging his involvement in a money-laundering case. They “digitally arrested” him and his wife during a video call, coercing him into transferring large sums to accounts they specified.
Fearing trouble, the victim transferred ₹58 crore through RTGS to multiple bank accounts over nearly two months. It was only later that he realized he had been duped and approached the cyber police.
A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Investigators traced the money trail and discovered that the funds were distributed across at least 18 bank accounts. Authorities have since taken steps to freeze these accounts.
Police identified and arrested three accused — Abdul Khulli (47) from Malad, Arjun Kadvasara (55), and his brother Jetharam (35) from Mumbai Central. Further investigation is underway to trace other accomplices and recover the remaining funds.
