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In 1 of Karnataka’s biggest-ever “digital arrest” scams, a 57-year-old Bengaluru pistillate was duped of astir Rs 32 crore implicit six months.The bundle technologist from Indiranagar told investigators she remained trapped successful the elaborate fraud until the scammers yet issued her a alleged “clearance letter.”Posing arsenic CBI officers, the fraudsters reportedly placed her nether a alleged “digital arrest,” keeping her nether changeless Skype surveillance. Using threats of contiguous arrest, they pressured her into revealing her fiscal accusation and making 187 slope transfers."In total, done 187 transactions, I basal deprived of a full magnitude of astir Rs 31.83 crores, which were deposited by me," the pistillate was quoted arsenic saying by PTI.
How it unfolded
The fraud began connected September 15, 2024, erstwhile the unfortunate received a telephone from idiosyncratic claiming to beryllium a DHL Andheri representative. She was told that a parcel booked successful her sanction contained recognition cards, passports, and MDMA, and that her individuality had been misused.Before she could respond, the telephone was switched to individuals posing arsenic CBI officers, who warned her that “all grounds is against you” and threatened contiguous arrest.
The impostors instructed her not to attack the police, claiming criminals were watching her home. Fearing for her family’s information and her son’s upcoming wedding, she complied. She was told to instal 2 Skype IDs and stay successful changeless video surveillance.A antheral identifying himself arsenic Mohit Handa monitored her for 2 days, aft which different impersonator, Rahul Yadav, kept ticker for a week. A 3rd man, Pradeep Singh, posed arsenic a elder CBI serviceman and pressured her to “prove her innocence.”In her complaint, the pistillate said the radical seemed to cognize her telephone enactment and location, which intensified her fear. They directed her to verify each her assets with the Financial Intelligence Unit of the RBI and showed forged documents to marque the process look legitimate.From September 24 to October 22, she shared her fiscal details and transferred important amounts of money. Between October 24 and November 3, she deposited what she was told was a surety magnitude of Rs 2 crore, followed by further transfers for expected “taxes.”
She was promised a clearance missive earlier her son’s engagement connected December 6, arsenic cited by PTI.On December 1, the scammers yet sent her a fake clearance letter, allowing the engagement to proceed. However, the intelligence strain took a toll, and she became earnestly sick soon afterward, requiring a period of aesculapian treatment.After December, the scammers continued to request “processing charges,” repeatedly postponing the promised refunds, archetypal to February, past to March. All connection abruptly stopped connected March 26, 2025.The woman, inactive recovering and unwilling to disrupt her son’s wedding, waited until aft the ceremonial successful June to record a ceremonial complaint. She has present urged authorities to behaviour a afloat probe into the fraud.
