Mumbai Woman Duped of ₹1.7 Lakh in 'Digital Arrest' Scam, Forced to Strip on Video Call

A Mumbai woman was duped of ₹1.7 lakh in a shocking 'digital arrest' scam. Scammers posing as Delhi Police coerced her into transferring money and stripping on a video call. Learn how this alarming fraud unfolded and how to stay safe.

Dec 1, 2024 - 13:09
Dec 1, 2024 - 13:12
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Mumbai Woman Duped of ₹1.7 Lakh in 'Digital Arrest' Scam, Forced to Strip on Video Call

In a distressing case of cyber fraud, a 26-year-old woman in Mumbai was conned out of ₹1.7 lakh and forced to strip during a video call by scammers posing as Delhi Police officers. The incident has raised concerns over a new and alarming scam tactic called "digital arrest."

The Incident

The victim, an employee at a pharmaceutical company and a resident of Borivali East, received a call on November 19 from individuals claiming to be officers of the Delhi Police. They alleged that her name had surfaced in a money laundering investigation tied to Naresh Goyal, the former chairman of Jet Airways who is currently in jail.

According to the woman’s complaint, the scammers used the guise of law enforcement to intimidate her. They warned her of an imminent arrest and insisted that she cooperate with their investigation. To make their claim appear credible, they shifted the interaction to a video call, where they informed her that she was under "digital arrest."

The Deceptive Scheme

The scammers instructed the woman to book a hotel room, claiming that her presence there was required to continue the investigation. After she complied and checked into the hotel, the fraudsters demanded ₹1,78,000, stating it was necessary to "verify" her bank account details.

In a shocking turn of events, the woman was also coerced into stripping during the video call under the pretext of a "body verification" procedure. Trusting the scammers, she followed their instructions and transferred the requested amount.

It was only later that the woman realized she had been duped. She reported the incident to the police on November 28.

Police Action

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhit and the Information Technology Act. Authorities have launched an investigation to trace the perpetrators and have reiterated the importance of public awareness regarding such scams.

Previous Incidents and the Rise of 'Digital Arrest' Scams

This is not the first instance where fraudsters have invoked the term "digital arrest" to deceive victims. In an earlier case, fraudsters used Naresh Goyal’s name to swindle ₹7 crore from Shri Paul Oswal, chairman and managing director of Vardhman Group. Similar to the latest case, the octogenarian was told he was under a "digital arrest" and manipulated into transferring the money.

What is 'Digital Arrest'?

"Digital arrest" is a fraudulent scheme where scammers claim that the victim is under virtual surveillance and cannot disclose the situation to anyone. The scammers use this tactic to exert psychological pressure, keeping the victim engaged on video or audio calls until they transfer money.

While police have issued advisories clarifying that no such concept as "digital arrest" exists, the scam continues to exploit individuals who are unaware of its fraudulent nature. Senior citizens, often less familiar with digital platforms, have been the primary targets. However, recent cases indicate that younger adults are increasingly falling prey to these scams.

Police Advisory

Authorities urge people to remain vigilant and skeptical of calls or messages from unknown individuals posing as law enforcement or government officials. They also recommend verifying any such claims through official channels and never transferring money or sharing sensitive information under duress.

This incident underscores the need for widespread awareness about cyber fraud and digital safety.

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