Mangaluru: A resident of Puttur taluk in Dakshina Kannada district has allegedly lost ₹1.31 crore to cybercriminals who impersonated Mumbai police and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers and falsely claimed that his bank accounts were linked to individuals allegedly involved in the Pahalgam massacre.
According to Dakshina Kannada district police, the fraudsters used threats of arrest and claims of an ongoing investigation to intimidate the victim into transferring money to multiple bank accounts. The incident is an alleged case of a digital arrest scam, in which cybercriminals impersonate law enforcement officials to extort money from unsuspecting individuals.
The fraud reportedly took place between September 2 and October 6, 2026. During this period, the victim transferred a total of ₹1,31,50,000 through the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system, believing that he was cooperating with a legitimate police investigation.
The victim later realised that he had been cheated and contacted the national cybercrime helpline 1930 to report the incident.
Fraudsters pose as Mumbai police and ATS officers
The accused allegedly contacted the Puttur resident and claimed to be officers from Mumbai police and the Anti-Terrorism Squad. They reportedly told him that money from his bank account had reached individuals accused in connection with the Pahalgam massacre.
By invoking a serious criminal investigation, the callers allegedly created fear that the victim could be arrested if he failed to cooperate with their instructions.
The fraudsters reportedly continued communicating with him through WhatsApp video calls, reinforcing their claims that he was under investigation. They allegedly insisted that his bank accounts needed to be examined and the funds held in them verified as part of the purported inquiry.
Believing the callers were genuine law enforcement officials, the victim followed their instructions and transferred money through RTGS to several bank accounts identified by the fraudsters.
The transactions were made in multiple stages over more than a month, eventually amounting to ₹1.31 crore.
Digital arrest scam reported to cybercrime helpline
The victim eventually realised that the callers had deceived him and approached the authorities. He reported the fraud through the national cybercrime helpline, 1930, police said.
The Dakshina Kannada Cyber Crime Police have registered a case under Crime No. 42/2026 and initiated an investigation into the alleged fraud.
The case has been registered under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, along with Sections 126(2), 204, 308(6), 318(4), 319(2) and 351, read with Section 3(5), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Investigators will examine the transactions and other available evidence as part of efforts to trace those responsible. Further details about the accused and the recovery of the transferred money were not provided in the information released by the police.
Police warn public against impersonation scams
Police have warned the public that cybercriminals are increasingly impersonating police officers and other investigative agency personnel to extort money.
In such scams, fraudsters may claim that a person’s identity documents, bank accounts or financial transactions have been linked to serious crimes. They then use threats of arrest, interrogation or legal action to pressure victims into following their instructions.
The use of WhatsApp video calls can make the deception appear convincing, particularly when callers present themselves as officials and repeatedly insist that the matter is confidential or urgent.
Authorities have emphasised that there is no legal procedure called digital arrest in India. Genuine police and investigative agencies do not arrest people through WhatsApp video calls or require them to transfer money to bank accounts for financial verification.
Members of the public should be cautious if unknown callers claim that they are being investigated for a serious offence and demand money. They should not transfer funds, disclose banking credentials or follow instructions without independently verifying the claims with the relevant authorities.
How to report a digital arrest scam
Anyone who suspects that they have been targeted by cybercriminals should immediately contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or file a complaint through the official website, cybercrime.gov.in.
Prompt reporting may help authorities trace suspicious transactions and take steps to freeze funds, where possible.
The Puttur case serves as a warning about the financial risks posed by impersonation scams, particularly those that exploit fear of criminal allegations. Police have urged the public to remain alert and verify claims through official channels rather than responding to threats from unknown callers.