Digital arrest scam: Bengaluru janitor defrauded of ₹98.4 lakh in two-month ordeal
After transferring substantial sums from her bank accounts, the woman pledged to secure additional funds with her personal gold jewelry. | Photo Credit: Photo for representation only
Cyber fraudsters allegedly duped a 60-year-old housewife from Bommanahalli, Bengaluru of ₹98.4 lakh by falsely implicating her in a money laundering case and subjecting her to a lengthy online “investigation” for nearly two months.
The victim approached the South-East Division Cyber Crime Police on June 5 after narrating her ordeal to family members who realized she had fallen victim to an elaborate cyber scam.
According to the complaint, the woman received a call on March 18 from a mobile number. The caller introduced himself as an official from the Delhi Police and later connected her via WhatsApp with another person claiming to be “DCP Bhishma Singh” of the Delhi Crime Branch.
The fraudsters allegedly told the woman that her identity documents had been misused in a money-laundering case and several criminal cases were pending against her. They further threatened her with arrest, claimed that a Supreme Court order had been issued and warned that non-cooperation could cause legal problems for her family.
Another person, who identifies himself as ‘Ravi Kumar’, frequently contacted the woman through WhatsApp and instructed her to share details of her daily activities. She was told she was being monitored as part of an ongoing investigation.
The accused allegedly made video calls, impersonated cyber crime officials in Delhi and convinced the housekeeper that he was the subject of a confidential investigation. Claiming that her bank accounts must be verified, they instructed her to transfer all her funds to the accounts they designated and assured her that the money would be returned once the investigation was complete.
The victim believed the claims to be true and transferred substantial amounts from her bank accounts. To secure additional funds, she pawned her personal gold jewelry and transferred the money to accounts provided by the fraudsters. She transferred a total of ₹98.4 crore to criminals.
A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The Cyber Crime Police has launched an investigation to trace the accused and recover the fraudulent money.
Published – 11 Jun 2026 15:31 IST