Bengaluru: A 74-year-old retired teacher from Bengaluru was allegedly cheated of Rs 24 crore after being held under “digital arrest” for nearly four months in a large-scale cyber fraud case, police said. The case has led to the arrest of six accused from multiple states by the State Cyber Command Unit.

The fraud came to light after timely intervention by a private bank manager, who grew suspicious of repeated high-value transactions and alerted authorities, preventing further financial losses.

The victim, identified as Lakshmi Ramamurthy, a resident of Shivajinagar, was reportedly targeted while living alone in Bengaluru, with her children residing abroad.

Fraudsters posed as CBI and ED officials

According to police, the accused impersonated senior officers from central investigative agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

They allegedly told the victim that she was involved in a money laundering case and placed her under constant psychological pressure through what is known as a “digital arrest” scam.

Under fear of legal action and surveillance, the victim transferred money in multiple instalments between February 10 and March 24. Police said she ended up transferring Rs 24 crore over 26 transactions into 23 mule bank accounts spread across 10 banks.

Investigators also revealed that the accused continued to demand more money even after receiving large sums.

Bank alert exposes scam

The case was uncovered when the victim visited her bank to pledge 1.3 kg of gold jewellery in order to raise additional funds for the fraudsters.

A bank manager noticed unusual patterns in her transactions and behaviour and immediately alerted the police.

Following the alert, police rushed to the bank and intervened. Initially, the woman was hesitant to speak due to fear, but officers later convinced her to share details of the scam.

Police said she had been kept under mental pressure for months, believing she was under surveillance and facing possible arrest.

Six accused arrested from different states

Based on technical investigation, money trail analysis and coordination across states, police arrested six accused persons from different locations.

The arrested individuals have been identified as:

  • N Sivagnanam from Erode, Tamil Nadu
  • Akkach Mallick from Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Palak Bhai Patel and Amit Narendra Patel from Ahmedabad, Gujarat
  • Om Prakash Rajput from New Delhi
  • Gaurav Kumar from Bihar

Investigators said the accused operated a coordinated network using mule bank accounts to transfer and launder money across multiple states.

Officials added that the victim was specifically targeted after the fraudsters learned she had recently sold a property and had access to a large sum of money.

Rs 4 crore frozen, Rs 1.46 crore recovered

Police said swift action helped freeze several mule accounts used in the scam through coordination with the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

Authorities have so far managed to freeze over Rs 4 crore linked to the fraud network and recover Rs 1.46 crore from the accused.

The investigation is ongoing, with officials working to trace additional beneficiaries and financial trails linked to the racket.

Rising threat of digital arrest scams

Cybercrime experts say “digital arrest” scams have become a growing threat in India, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement agencies to intimidate victims into transferring money.

Victims are often kept under continuous audio or video calls, instructed not to contact family members, and threatened with immediate arrest if they disobey instructions.

Officials have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify any communication claiming to be from investigative agencies, stressing that no government body conducts arrests or financial investigations over phone or video calls.

Authorities have also advised banks to remain vigilant, as timely alerts from financial institutions have played a crucial role in preventing larger losses in several recent cases.

The Bengaluru case is being described as one of the largest “digital arrest” frauds reported in the city in recent years.