86-year-old Mumbai woman loses Rs.20 crore in 'digital arrest' fraud, three arrested

In a shocking case of cyber fraud, an 86-year-old woman from South Mumbai was duped of over ₹20 crore in a meticulously planned ‘digital arrest’ scam. The fraudsters, who posed as officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), not only extorted money from her over a span of two months but also forced her into isolation, constantly monitoring her movements and threatening legal consequences. Mumbai cyber police have arrested three individuals in connection with the scam and have frozen ₹77 lakh from the fraudulent transactions.

The scam began on December 26, 2024, when the elderly woman received a call from a man posing as a CBI officer. The caller falsely claimed that a bank account linked to her Aadhaar had been used in money laundering. Using fear and psychological manipulation, the fraudsters coerced her into staying inside her home, instructing her to not disclose anything to anyone. To maintain pressure, they called her every three hours and repeatedly threatened to arrest her children if she did not cooperate.

For two months, the woman followed the fraudsters' instructions, stepping out of her room only for meals and interacting with them solely through phone calls. Her domestic help, who noticed her unusual behavior, alerted her daughter, leading to the exposure of the crime. By then, the fraudsters had extracted ₹20.26 crore from her under various pretexts, such as legal fees, case clearance, and refunds that were never issued.

Investigations revealed that the money was transferred across multiple bank accounts, including one belonging to Shayan Jamil Shaikh (20), a resident of Malad. Cyber police traced and arrested him, leading to further arrests of Razique Azan Butt (20) from Mira Road and Hritik Shekhar Thakur (25) from Andheri. Butt is suspected to be linked to an international cyber fraud network, suggesting a larger organized crime operation behind the scam.

Authorities also discovered that ₹4.99 lakh was funneled through Shaikh’s account, while ₹9 lakh was transferred to Thakur’s account and later withdrawn. The police have identified two more individuals involved in the crime and have issued notices under Section 35 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which allows arrests without a warrant. Efforts are ongoing to trace and recover the remaining amount.

This case highlights the growing threat of cyber fraud targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly victims who may not be aware of modern scam tactics. Police urge citizens to be cautious of unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be law enforcement officials and to verify any legal accusations with official government agencies before making financial transactions.