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A 78-year-old Delhi resident was duped of Rs 23 crore in a month through a digital arrest scam involving fake officials posing as from the police and investigative agencies.
A photo representing digital fraud
A septuagenarian in Delhi was duped of more than Rs 20 crore over a period of one month, after he fell victim to a digital arrest scam.
Naresh Malhotra, a 78-year-old retired banker from South Delhi’s Gulmohar Park, lost Rs 23 crore over a month.
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It began in August this year, when Malhotra received a call from a woman claiming to be a senior officer from a telecom company, alleging that his mobile number had been used for fraudulent and illegal activities.
He was soon contacted by others posing as officials from the Mumbai Police, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who threatened him with serious legal action and accused him of links to terrorist groups.
The callers ordered him to remain under surveillance without leaving his home, forced him to attend video calls every two hours. They also made him sign an undertaking to keep the matter secret.
To gain his trust, they sent him a fake bail order and threatened him with passport seizure, restrictions on international travel, and harm to his family.
Between August 4 and September 4, the fraudsters withdrew Rs 23 crore from Malhotra’s three bank accounts through 20 transactions, also obtaining his bank details and investment information.
As he suffered huge financial losses, Malhotra approached the police, and a First Information Report (FIR) in the case was registered by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) Unit of the Delhi Police on September 19.
Subsequently, funds worth approximately Rs 2.3 crore that were transferred from his bank accounts were frozen, and an investigation was underway.
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About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
September 23, 2025, 08:57 IST
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