In a troubling escalation of cybercrime targeting vulnerable citizens, an elderly couple from Pimpri Chinchwad and a retired engineering professor from Pune district lost more than ₹5 crore to a sophisticated digital arrest scam. Cybercriminals impersonating police and anti-terror officials coerced the victims into transferring their life savings under the pretext of “verification” and “legal clearance”.

Retired professor loses ₹3.08 crore after fake terror-financing accusation

According to FIR details cited by The Indian Express, a 64-year-old retired engineering professor from Pune received a call from a person claiming to be a “Cyber Data Protection officer” posted at Colaba Police Station. The caller falsely informed her that she was involved in a terror-financing investigation.

The fraudsters instructed her to join a video call, warning her not to speak to anyone about the matter because it was a “classified probe”. During the call, they projected themselves as genuine law enforcement personnel by using names of real Maharashtra Police officers, showing her images of alleged terror suspects and fabricating an atmosphere of high-stress urgency.

Extracting detailed financial information, the scammers convinced her that her accounts needed to be temporarily transferred to “government-controlled accounts” for clearance. In six transactions conducted over one week, she transferred ₹3.08 crore before realising she had been duped.

She approached the Cyber Crime police only after the scammers stopped responding and she detected inconsistencies in their claims.

Pimpri Chinchwad couple coerced into transferring ₹2.14 crore

In a parallel case, a 74-year-old retired manager and his wife, a former teacher, from Pimpri Chinchwad were contacted by individuals posing as Nashik Police officials. The scammers accused the woman of being linked to a case involving the Popular Front of India (PFI).

The victims were intimidated into believing that non-cooperation could lead to arrest or legal action. Under the guise of verifying funds under Reserve Bank of India norms, the fraudsters collected their financial details and coerced them into making eight large transfers amounting to ₹2.14 crore.

The couple approached the police only after experiencing doubts when the calls became inconsistent and overly demanding.

Kanpur woman tricked by impersonators posing as ATS officers

A similar digital arrest case surfaced in Kanpur, where a woman named Sunita Gaur was conned out of ₹6.66 lakh by scammers impersonating officers of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

Between 9 and 11 November, the fraudsters claimed her mobile number was linked to terrorist activity related to the Delhi blast. They threatened that she and her family would face immediate arrest unless she complied with instructions to “verify” her financial assets.

Following her complaint, Kanpur Police registered an FIR. IPS Anjali Vishwakarma, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), described the matter as “another serious case of digital arrest,” underscoring how rapidly such scams are increasing across India.

Digital arrest scams: a growing nationwide threat

Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that “digital arrests”—a term used for scams where criminals intimidate victims into believing they are wanted in serious cases—are becoming alarmingly common.

These scams often involve:

  • Caller ID spoofing to appear as police or government numbers
  • Use of real officers’ names and fake IDs
  • Video calls staged to resemble official interrogation rooms
  • Threats of immediate arrest, FIRs or legal action
  • Coercing victims into transferring funds under the pretext of “verification”

According to cybercrime officials, retirees, homemakers and professionals living alone are especially vulnerable.

Conclusion

The Pune and Kanpur incidents highlight the increasing sophistication of digital fraud networks operating across India. While investigations are underway, cybercrime authorities have urged citizens to remain alert, verify any unsolicited legal claim through official channels, and avoid transferring money under pressure. As digital impersonation crimes evolve, awareness remains the strongest defence.