Bengaluru: An 83-year-old retired Army colonel in Bengaluru lost his life savings of ₹56 lakh after falling victim to a highly sophisticated “digital arrest” scam orchestrated by fraudsters posing as Mumbai Police officers. The elaborate scheme unfolded over a fortnight, leaving the elderly man traumatised and financially devastated before he finally realised he had been cheated.

Fake police officers accused him of illegal activity

According to his complaint filed with the Central Cybercrime Police on November 18, the ordeal began on October 27 when he received a call from a man identifying himself as Sanjay Pise, a Mumbai Police officer. The caller claimed that a SIM card registered in the colonel’s name had been used to make harassment calls and publish illegal advertisements online. He was informed that a criminal case had already been registered against him.

When the elderly complainant explained that he was too old to travel to Mumbai for questioning, the fraudsters escalated the pressure. They introduced more callers pretending to be senior Mumbai Police officials and placed him under what they termed “digital arrest”.

For the first two to three days, they kept him on continuous video calls, creating the impression that he was under direct police surveillance. Any attempt to end the call or communicate with others, they claimed, would result in his immediate physical arrest.

Fraudsters gathered personal and financial details

Under the pretext of conducting an “online investigation”, the impostors extracted sensitive personal information from him. They asked about his family members, finances and detailed banking information. They repeatedly warned him that the case was “highly sensitive” and involved high-profile individuals, insisting that he must not share any details with anyone—not even his family.

After ending video surveillance, the scammers demanded that he share his live location every three hours, further deepening their control over him.

They told him that he had been involved in “illegal transactions” and that all his bank accounts had to undergo verification by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). To facilitate this, they instructed him to send his account details—account holder name, account number, branch and IFSC code—over WhatsApp. They then coerced him into revealing his account balances and investments.

Forced to transfer money under the guise of RBI verification

The fraudsters first ordered him to transfer ₹6 lakh to an account number they provided. After receiving the money, they sent him a message claiming acknowledgement. They next asked him to send the remaining ₹5 lakh from his account.

Not stopping there, the scammers pressured him into liquidating his mutual fund investments. They made him transfer over ₹35 lakh to one account and another ₹10 lakh to a separate account. Altogether, by the first week of November, the retired officer had transferred ₹56 lakh—his entire savings—to the fraudsters.

Throughout the process, they repeatedly assured him that the money would be returned after “RBI verification” within three days.

Realisation of fraud and police complaint

The elderly man waited until November 12 for his money to be returned. When no communication came, he realised he had been cheated. He reported the matter to the cybercrime police on November 18.

A senior police officer confirmed that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (cheating). The investigation is now underway, and efforts are being made to track the money trail and identify the perpetrators.

Rising threat of digital arrest scams

Digital arrest scams—where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or government authorities and coerce victims into staying on calls for hours or days—have increased sharply across India. Vulnerable individuals, especially senior citizens, are frequently targeted.

Authorities have repeatedly advised the public that no law enforcement officer conducts investigations or arrests through video calls, nor do agencies such as RBI or banks ask for money transfers for “verification”.

A cautionary tale

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the sophistication of modern cybercrime. The combination of fear, manipulation and impersonation of authorities can victimize even well-educated individuals, including former armed forces personnel.

Police have urged residents to remain cautious, verify any unsolicited call claiming to be from a government department, and immediately report suspected fraud attempts.