86-year-old woman in Mumbai loses Rs 20.25 crore to digital arrest scam via fake police video calls and social engineering between December 26, 2024, and March 3, 2025

Summary

An 86-year-old woman in Mumbai lost Rs 20.25 crore in a prolonged "digital arrest" scam between December 26, 2024, and March 3, 2025. Scammers impersonated police officers and claimed her Aadhaar card had been misused in illegal activities, coercing her into transferring money under threat of legal action. The fraudsters used fake video calls and social engineering tactics to make her believe she was under official investigation and being monitored remotely. The victim was instructed to remain under "digital arrest" and was prevented from discussing the situation with anyone. Mumbai Police confirmed the use of sophisticated methods in the scam and are currently investigating to trace the funds and identify the perpetrators.