A woman from Vadapalani in Chennai was cheated of ₹75,000 by cyber fraudsters who posed as officials from the Indian High Commission, police said. The scammers falsely claimed that her daughter, who is studying in London, had been detained and placed under a so-called “digital arrest”.
Fake High Commission call triggers panic
According to police sources, the victims, Ashok Anand and his wife Banumathi, received a phone call in which the callers introduced themselves as Indian High Commission officials from a foreign country. The fraudsters told Banumathi that her daughter had been detained for allegedly defrauding a minister of ₹10 crore and could face up to 10 years in prison.
The callers warned that the student’s education would be disrupted and her visa cancelled unless money was transferred immediately to “resolve” the matter.
Money transferred under pressure
Fearing for her daughter’s safety and future, Banumathi transferred ₹75,000 to a bank account provided by the callers. The fraudsters later contacted her again, demanding an additional ₹35,000. This raised suspicion, after which she informed her husband.
The couple soon realised they had been cheated and approached the cyber crime police.
Case registered, probe underway
A complaint has been registered with the cyber crime police at T Nagar, and further investigation is under way. Officers said they are tracing the bank account and phone numbers used by the fraudsters.
Rising ‘digital arrest’ scams
Police warned that “digital arrest” is a fabricated concept often used by cyber criminals to extort money by creating fear and urgency. Fraudsters commonly impersonate officials from embassies, police departments or agencies such as the Indian High Commission to gain victims’ trust.
Authorities have urged the public to verify such claims independently and to avoid transferring money based on unsolicited calls. Any suspected cyber fraud should be reported immediately to local cyber crime units or through official online portals.