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In one of Karnataka’s biggest-ever “digital arrest” scams, a 57-year-old Bengaluru woman was duped of nearly Rs 32 crore over six months.The software engineer from Indiranagar told investigators she remained trapped in the elaborate fraud until the scammers finally issued her a so-called “clearance letter.”Posing as CBI officers, the fraudsters reportedly placed her under a so-called “digital arrest,” keeping her under constant Skype surveillance. Using threats of immediate arrest, they pressured her into revealing her financial information and making 187 bank transfers.”In total, through 187 transactions, I stand deprived of a total amount of approximately Rs 31.83 crores, which were deposited by me,” the woman was quoted as saying by PTI.
How it unfolded
The fraud began on September 15, 2024, when the victim received a call from someone claiming to be a DHL Andheri representative. She was told that a parcel booked in her name contained credit cards, passports, and MDMA, and that her identity had been misused.Before she could respond, the call was switched to individuals posing as CBI officers, who warned her that “all evidence is against you” and threatened immediate arrest. The impostors instructed her not to approach the police, claiming criminals were watching her home. Fearing for her family’s safety and her son’s upcoming wedding, she complied. She was told to install two Skype IDs and remain in constant video surveillance.A man identifying himself as Mohit Handa monitored her for two days, after which another impersonator, Rahul Yadav, kept watch for a week. A third man, Pradeep Singh, posed as a senior CBI officer and pressured her to “prove her innocence.”In her complaint, the woman said the group seemed to know her phone activity and location, which intensified her fear. They directed her to verify all her assets with the Financial Intelligence Unit of the RBI and showed forged documents to make the process appear legitimate.From September 24 to October 22, she shared her financial details and transferred significant amounts of money. Between October 24 and November 3, she deposited what she was told was a surety amount of Rs 2 crore, followed by additional transfers for supposed “taxes.” She was promised a clearance letter before her son’s engagement on December 6, as cited by PTI.On December 1, the scammers finally sent her a fake clearance letter, allowing the engagement to proceed. However, the psychological strain took a toll, and she became seriously ill shortly afterward, requiring a month of medical treatment.After December, the scammers continued to demand “processing charges,” repeatedly postponing the promised refunds, first to February, then to March. All communication abruptly stopped on March 26, 2025.The woman, still recovering and unwilling to disrupt her son’s wedding, waited until after the ceremony in June to file a formal complaint. She has now urged authorities to conduct a full investigation into the fraud. Go to Source
