Elderly couple in Bengaluru loses ₹4.7 crore to digital arrest scam via fake SBI and CBI impersonators

Summary

An elderly couple in Bengaluru fell victim to a digital arrest scam, losing Rs 4.7 crore between March 19 and May 15. The fraudsters impersonated an SBI staff member and a CBI officer, falsely claiming the couple was involved in money laundering and under digital arrest. They were threatened with arrest if they spoke to anyone and were not allowed to communicate with their children. The scammers provided fake court documents and ID cards to pressure the couple into transferring money to two specified accounts. Police rescued the couple after receiving a tip-off and registered a case under the Information Technology Act and various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS).