A 68-year-old Mumbai woman lost Rs 3.71 crore to cyber fraudsters in a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam, where impostors posed as police from Colaba station, central agency officers, and even a fake judge named “Justice Chandrachud” during a staged online court hearing.
The deceit unfolded between 18 August and 13 October 2025, surfacing when the victim from Andheri West approached West Region Cyber Police, leading to the arrest last week of a Surat man who supplied a mule bank account holding Rs 1.71 crore for a Rs 6.40 lakh commission.
He implicated two masterminds operating from abroad, one linked to an immigration business; police pursue overseas leads amid a national surge in such threats. The victim, a retired senior citizen, suffered profound trauma, while authorities emphasise immediate verification of suspicious calls.
Cruel Impersonation Tactics Exposed
The scam began with a phone call alleging the woman’s name appeared on a parcel of illicit goods containing drugs and valuables seized at Mumbai airport, implicating her in money laundering.
Fraudsters escalated by arranging video calls from numbers mimicking official ones, showing actors in police uniforms against backdrops of agency logos, demanding she remain under “digital arrest” at home to avoid physical custody.
The climax involved a fabricated online court session via video link, where the lead impostor, dressed in judicial robes, introduced himself as “Justice Chandrachud” and instructed transfers for bail, legal fees, and account verification, siphoning funds across 15 bank accounts.
The Surat arrestee, identified as the mule account holder under a fake cloth trading firm, confessed during interrogation, revealing he received instructions via encrypted apps and has named the two foreign-based kingpins who recruited him online.
“He has provided crucial details of the masterminds, who are currently abroad and managing multiple such operations,” a senior West Region Cyber Police official stated, noting the victim’s two-month ordeal left her isolated and financially devastated, too fearful to confide in family until the calls abruptly ceased.
This human cost underscores how scammers exploit trust in institutions and the vulnerability of elders living alone in urban India.
Surge in Sophisticated Cyber Frauds Across India
Digital arrest scams, nonexistent in actual Indian law, have exploded nationwide, with over 1,200 cases reported in Maharashtra alone this year, defrauding victims of hundreds of crores through layered deception involving deepfake videos, voice modulation, and international call centres.
In this Mumbai incident, reported widely on 29 December 2025, the probe intensified after the woman’s complaint, uncovering financial trails linking to Gujarat and beyond; police have frozen several accounts and issued look-out notices for the absconders.
Similar syndicates operate from Cambodia, Myanmar, and the UAE, using Indian mules for local banking and scripting dramas that prey on fear of authority recent busts in Delhi and Bengaluru mirror this pattern, with fraudsters posing as judges, CBI officers, or even Supreme Court officials.
The Economic Offences Wing’s parallel investigations reveal these gangs launder funds via cryptocurrency and hawala, adapting quickly to crackdowns. Cyber police stress that no legitimate agency ever demands money over phone or conducts arrests virtually, urging citizens to dial 1930 helpline or visit stations directly.
This case highlights the need for systemic alerts, as seniors form 40% of victims per National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal data, often losing pensions and savings built over decades.
Expert Advice on Safeguarding Against Scams
Cybersecurity professionals recommend a multi-layered defence to thwart such ploys. First, pause and verify: if anyone claims authority over phone or video, disconnect and contact the agency directly using verified numbers from official sources, never those provided by the caller.
Enable two-factor authentication on banking apps, set transaction limits, and regularly review account statements for anomalies. Educate family members, especially seniors, through simple workshops on recognising red flags like urgency, secrecy demands, or requests for screen sharing.
Install reputable anti-malware software and avoid clicking unsolicited links, as scammers often deploy phishing to gain remote access. In case of suspicion, report immediately to cybercrime portals without engaging further, preserving evidence like call logs and screenshots.
Financial advisors suggest diversifying savings into secure instruments and nominating trusted kin for quick alerts on large transfers. Community vigilance, such as neighbourhood awareness drives, proves invaluable in building resilience.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This brazen scam not only drains life savings but shatters the dignity of our elders, who deserve peace after years of honest toil, reminding us that technology’s promise falters without empathy and vigilance.
The Logical Indian stands for kindness in action advocating nationwide cyber hygiene drives, empathetic victim restitution funds, international diplomacy to dismantle overseas hubs, and dialogues that unite families in protection, nurturing coexistence in a hyper-connected India.
