Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Apr 18 – In a disturbing case of cyber fraud, a retired Indian Army colonel and his wife were allegedly placed under a so-called “digital arrest” and conned out of ₹49 lakh by cybercriminals posing as officials from the Mumbai Crime Branch, police officials revealed on Friday.
The incident unfolded after the complainant received a WhatsApp video call from a man claiming to be a Mumbai police officer. The fraudster informed the colonel that his Aadhaar number had been misused to purchase four SIM cards and open a bank account involved in laundering ₹2 crore.
The alleged conman, while posing as an authority figure, threatened to probe the couple’s bank accounts and placed them under continuous “supervision” for over two weeks. From March 23 to April 7, the couple were kept on video call for up to 11 hours daily, coerced into believing they were being officially monitored.
💸 Funds Transferred Under Duress
As part of the elaborate con, the fraudster claimed the couple’s source of income needed verification, and demanded transfers to a specified account. The victims, out of fear and confusion, transferred:
- ₹9 lakh on March 29
- ₹40 lakh on April 4
via RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement).
The scam only came to light on April 10, when the couple finally approached police after realising they had been cheated. By then, the criminals had already distributed the funds across 22 different accounts.
🚨 Investigation Underway
A case has been registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Mandi, and authorities have succeeded in freezing ₹5.58 lakh in suspicious accounts. The probe is now focused on tracing the transaction trail and identifying the fraud ring involved.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Cyber Crime), Mohit Chawla, clarified that “digital arrest” is not a legal concept under Indian law and warned citizens not to fall prey to such tactics.
“Do not fall prey to fraudsters and lose your life’s savings. If you receive any such call or message, contact the 1930 cybercrime helpline immediately,” Chawla advised.
📱 A Growing Trend
This incident highlights the increasing sophistication of cyber fraud in India, especially targeting elderly or retired individuals using fear and impersonation tactics. Law enforcement agencies continue to urge citizens to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity without delay
