MANGALURU: Swift action by personnel of the Mangaluru Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police station helped a 79-year-old woman from Bejai recover ₹17 lakh that she had been tricked into transferring online after being threatened with a so-called “digital arrest.”
The scam and the threat call
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Mithun H. N., the incident took place on October 23, when the woman received a phone call from an unidentified person claiming to be a government official. The caller falsely informed her that an arrest warrant had been issued in her name for alleged involvement in a financial offence.
The scammer instructed her to deposit her savings into a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) account for “verification” and warned that if she failed to comply, she would be taken into custody. The woman was also told not to reveal the matter to anyone, under the pretext that her “case was under investigation.”
Terrified and confused, the victim complied with the caller’s demands. The fraudsters kept her engaged on a phone call for nearly five hours, even staging a fake WhatsApp video call impersonating police officers and a judge to lend credibility to the ruse.
Bank visit and money transfer
As the woman did not use any UPI platform, the fraudsters directed her to visit her bank branch, liquidate her fixed deposits and savings, and transfer the money through RTGS to a bank account provided by them. She followed their instructions and transferred ₹17 lakh around 3 p.m. on October 23.
Later that evening, she mentioned the incident to a neighbour, who immediately suspected fraud and took her to the CEN police station at around 7 p.m.
Police intervention and recovery
Upon receiving the complaint, the CEN police quickly alerted the 1930 Cybercrime Helpline and contacted the bank concerned. The ₹17 lakh was frozen in the beneficiary’s account before it could be withdrawn.
A formal report was then submitted to the court on October 24. Following the intervening holidays on October 25 and 26, the court ordered the release of the frozen funds to the victim’s account on October 27, successfully returning her money in full.
DCP Mithun appreciated the prompt action by the police team and the victim’s timely reporting, which made the recovery possible.
DCP’s warning to citizens
DCP Mithun urged citizens to remain vigilant against cyber scams and to report any suspicious communication immediately. He clarified that there is no such legal process as a “digital arrest” in India.
“No agency — including the police, judiciary, CBI, or ED — ever demands money transfers or deposits under such a pretext,” he stated.
He also highlighted the growing trend of “call merging scams,” in which fraudsters trick victims into merging their calls with automated banking lines to steal one-time passwords (OTPs).
“People should avoid merging calls from unknown numbers, download only trusted apps, and never share OTPs or personal banking details with anyone,” he cautioned.
Other forms of digital fraud
The DCP further warned citizens about SIM swapping scams, where criminals obtain a duplicate SIM card linked to a victim’s mobile number to gain access to bank accounts and digital wallets.
He advised people to remain alert, verify unknown callers or messages, and contact the nearest police station or dial 1930 immediately in case of any suspicious activity.
“Early reporting can make all the difference,” he emphasised, noting that timely intervention by the cybercrime helpline often helps freeze and recover stolen funds.
The Mangaluru CEN police have appealed to citizens to spread awareness about such scams, particularly among the elderly and digitally inexperienced, who are more vulnerable to intimidation tactics and social engineering frauds.
A successful rescue and a lesson for all
The quick recovery of ₹17 lakh serves as a testament to the efficiency of Mangaluru’s cybercrime response team and highlights the importance of awareness and prompt reporting in tackling digital frauds.
Police officials reiterated that while the number of online scams has risen sharply, many cases can still be resolved successfully if reported without delay.