Maharashtra Cyber Police help stop Delhi digital arrest scam after ₹27 lakh loss

Rs crore scam elderly victims How Maharashtra Cyber rescued Delhi woman

Mumbai, October 14, 2026: The Maharashtra Cyber police have issued an advisory for citizens, warning them against mule account scams. A mule account is a bank account used by cybercriminals to receive, hold and forward fraudulent money, turning an innocent account holder into an unwitting criminal, the advisory stated.How The Mule Account Scam WorksExplaining how the scam happens, the advisory states that the scam process typically occurs in five distinct phases: “Initially, the victim receives a message or call from the scammers offering quick money through a job, a lucrative commission, or a ‘work from home’ setup with no investment. The victim is then asked to share the bank account details or open a brand-new bank account at their request, often under the guise of an ‘instant loan in minutes’ requiring no documents.”“Cybercriminals actively use the victim's account to receive and move stolen or fraudulent money. The money is then quickly layered across multiple accounts, digital wallets, or fake businesses, and is ultimately withdrawn in cash or online. And since the victim's name is tied to the financial trail, your bank account is frozen, and you face immediate legal action for money laundering,” the advisory stated.How Citizens Can Be TrickedWarning how citizens can be used unknowingly by the scammers, the advisory states: “The victim may fall into a trap of scammers by accepting tempting, unverified offers for easy income. The victim is lured into sharing their KYC details or giving account access to someone else ‘for a few days’. The victim is induced by scammers to allow them to use their account, thinking it’s legitimate.”How To Protect YourselfNever share your personal bank details, UPI PIN, OTPs, or net banking passwords.Verify credentials and thoroughly check official sources before trusting any job offer or financial firm.Avoid opening suspicious links, files, or attachments received via SMS or messaging apps.Keep your bank account and personal mobile devices completely secure.Also Watch: Mumbai Cyber Fraud: Peddar Road Couple Duped Of ₹4.52 Crore In Digital Arrest Scam; Fraudsters Pose As Police, NIA And Supreme Court OfficialsPolice helpline: If anyone suspects they have been targeted or their account has been compromised, immediately contact the national Cyber Helpline by calling 1930 or report the incident directly at the official government portal, mhcyber.gov.in.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai: Maharashtra Cyber’s real-time technical analysis helped Delhi Police rescue an elderly woman who was allegedly being targeted in a digital arrest scam after she had transferred around ₹27 lakh to cyber fraudsters. The timely intervention prevented her from transferring more money, while the technical investigation was underway in a separate ₹3 crore digital arrest fraud case in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.₹3 Crore Fraud Under InvestigationAccording to Maharashtra Cyber, its technical team was assisting the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Police in tracing the money trail in a case involving a 74-year-old woman who had allegedly been cheated of approximately ₹3 crore.During the investigation, the team examined a Layer-1 mule account through which nearly ₹89 lakh of the defrauded amount had been traced. The analysis revealed a fresh RTGS credit of ₹14 lakh from another individual through UCO Bank, raising suspicion that another person could be falling victim to the same cyber fraud network.Maharashtra Cyber Traces SenderMaharashtra Cyber immediately initiated backward tracing of the transaction and issued an urgent notice to UCO Bank to obtain the sender’s Know Your Customer (KYC) details. The examination established that the sender was a woman residing in New Delhi.Further analysis suggested that the woman was potentially being subjected to an ongoing digital arrest scam and could be at risk of transferring more money to the fraudsters. Acting swiftly, Maharashtra Cyber alerted the Delhi Police on October 13, 2026, and shared relevant transaction details and technical intelligence. Delhi Police subsequently traced and rescued the elderly woman. An FIR is being processed in connection with the case.Timely Intervention Prevents Further LossesThe investigation revealed that the woman had already transferred approximately ₹27 lakh to the fraudsters. However, the timely detection of the suspicious transaction and coordination between the two police agencies helped disrupt the alleged fraud and protect her from further financial losses.BIS Western Regional Office Celebrates Manak Mahotsav On World Standards Day 2026 For Affordable And Clean EnergyThe incident highlights how real-time financial transaction analysis and inter-state coordination can help detect active cyber frauds beyond the scope of an existing investigation. A probe into the ₹3 crore fraud in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar thus led to the identification and rescue of another suspected victim in Delhi.Maharashtra Cyber has cautioned citizens, particularly senior citizens, against digital arrest scams in which fraudsters impersonate police officers, investigating agencies or government officials and threaten victims with arrest or legal action to extort money.The agency reiterated that there is no legal procedure called “digital arrest” in India. No legitimate law enforcement agency arrests individuals through video calls or demands money to prevent arrest or legal proceedings. Citizens have been advised not to panic, share sensitive banking details or transfer money in response to such threats. Anyone who suspects cyber fraud should immediately contact the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai, October 13, 2026: A 74-year-old businessman and his 77-year-old wife from the upscale Peddar Road area of South Mumbai were allegedly duped of Rs.4.52 crore by cyber fraudsters who posed as officials of the Mumbai Police, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Supreme Court of India and Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in a prolonged ‘digital arrest’ scam.Fraudsters Posed As Multiple OfficialsAccording to the FIR and the complainant's statement to the police, the fraud began on September 19, when he received a call from an unidentified number. The caller introduced himself as Chirag Rawal from the Colaba Police Station/police headquarters and claimed that a SIM card registered in the complainant's name was linked to a criminal case. The caller alleged that the complainant and his wife were involved in financial fraud and would have to obtain a ‘non-involvement certificate’.The call was subsequently transferred to people identifying themselves as Rahul Yadav from the ATS headquarters in Lucknow and Sandeep Rao, an IPS officer with the ATS. They allegedly claimed that a bank account in the complainant's name had been opened at an ICICI Bank branch in Hubballi, Karnataka, and that large-scale money laundering had taken place through it.The fraudsters allegedly told the couple that the matter concerned national security and instructed them not to disclose anything to anyone. They subsequently initiated video calls lasting around three hours through WhatsApp numbers allegedly operating under the name ‘ATS’. During the calls, the accused sent the couple fabricated bank statements, a photograph of an ICICI Bank card, and forged documents purportedly issued by the Supreme Court, including an asset seizure order and an arrest warrant. The documents allegedly carried the complainant's Aadhaar number, along with forged signatures and seals, and referred to purported offences under various laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Official Secrets Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).Couple Kept Under Digital ArrestThe fraudsters then allegedly told the couple that they were under ‘digital arrest’ and that an electronic investigation would continue through video calls. They threatened to arrest them and seize their property if they failed to comply with instructions. From September 19 onwards, the couple was allegedly kept under continuous surveillance through WhatsApp and Signal video calls and instructed to report their daily activities, avoid discussing the matter with relatives, domestic staff or bank employees, and share details of their bank accounts and incoming calls.The accused allegedly sent photographs of Jaslok Hospital and buildings near the couple's residence to create the impression that they were being monitored. The complainant's wife was also allegedly made to report her movements during medical visits, including a visit to Jaslok Hospital on September 21.According to the complaint, the fraudsters also made the couple prepare a handwritten application addressed to the NIA chief seeking a ‘priority investigation’. They allegedly altered the date on the application and returned it bearing a forged NIA seal and a signature in the name of Rakesh Agarwal. On September 24, they allegedly obtained a written apology from the couple over a debit card they had not disclosed earlier.Couple Transferred Rs.4.52 CroreUnder the fraudsters' instructions, the complainant transferred a total of Rs.5.049 crore from his bank account to the couple's joint bank account between September 23 and 25.On September 25, the accused allegedly sent a fabricated RBI letter titled ‘Funding Legalization’, purportedly signed by RBI Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta. The letter claimed that a ‘public fund account’ had been created to verify the funds of persons under investigation and that the money would be returned after verification.The couple was instructed to transfer Rs.2.02 crore to an account held by OLYREAE TRADESHARE LLP at a private bank's Kanjikode branch in Palakkad, Kerala. The complainant visited that bank's branch at Nariman Point and initiated the RTGS transaction. The amount was debited from the joint account at 2.34 pm on September 25. On October 3, acting on further instructions, the couple transferred another Rs.2.505 crore through RTGS from their joint bank account to an account held by M/s SB Enterprise with the bank.The two transfers amounted to Rs.4.525 crore, which the couple allegedly sent to accounts specified by the fraudsters. The accused subsequently sent another forged RBI letter titled ‘Clarification of Funds Received’, purportedly confirming receipt of Rs.2.02 crore and assuring the couple that they would be declared victims rather than suspects after verification and a Supreme Court order.Financial Adviser Exposed The FraudThe alleged fraud came to light on October 7, when the couple's financial adviser and wealth manager contacted them and noticed that they were under considerable stress. After hearing their account, the adviser informed them that they had been victims of a digital arrest scam. The complainant's wife subsequently lodged a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on October 7.Also Watch: Mumbai Cyber Fraud: Fake Aadhaar Helpline Costs Former Garware Institute Director ₹2.58 LakhThe complaint states that the fraudsters contacted the couple between September 19 and October 7 using multiple mobile and WhatsApp numbers while impersonating law enforcement and government officials. The complainant has sought legal action against the individuals involved, their associates, and the beneficiaries and users of the bank accounts through which the money was transferred. The South Region Cyber Police Station of the Mumbai Crime Branch is handling the complaint. Further investigation is required to identify the accused, trace the money trail and establish the role of the beneficiary account holders.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/