Mumbai Retired Banker Loses ₹50 Lakh in Shocking ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam: Fraudsters Posed as NIA Officers on Video Call
A shocking case of cyber fraud has emerged from Mumbai, exposing how scammers are exploiting fear and technology to deceive even the most cautious citizens. A retired banker and his wife were trapped for three consecutive days on a video call with fraudsters pretending to be police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers. Using threats and fake documents, the criminals managed to extort ₹50.5 lakh from the couple — all without a single physical meeting.
The Start of the ‘Digital Arrest’
According to reports, the incident occurred between September 11 and 24. The retired banker, a resident of North Mumbai, received a WhatsApp call from a man claiming to be a police officer from Nashik. The caller informed him that his name had appeared in a money laundering case and that the police were investigating. To make the claim seem legitimate, the fraudster even sent a fake FIR copy with the victim’s name printed on it.
Soon after, another person joined the call, identifying himself as an IPS officer from the NIA. He instructed the couple to remain on a continuous video call until the “investigation” was completed. The victims, frightened by the allegations and the official-looking behavior of the fraudsters, complied and stayed on the call for nearly three days, completely isolated and under mental pressure.
Money Transferred in the Name of ‘Verification’
During these video calls, the scammers gained the couple’s trust and gradually extracted details about their bank accounts and fixed deposits. They claimed that all funds had to be “verified” by the NIA and temporarily transferred to a government account for clearance. Convinced by the fake investigation narrative, the retired banker transferred ₹50.5 lakh to the fraudsters’ account. Moments later, the video call ended — and the fraudsters disappeared.
Police Crackdown: Two Arrested
The North Region Cyber Police launched an investigation after receiving the complaint. Through transaction tracing, they discovered ₹29.5 lakh in a “mule account” belonging to Ravi Ananda Ambore, a resident of Ulhasnagar in Thane district. Ambore was arrested on October 25 and admitted that he had rented out his account to cybercriminals for a commission.
Based on his statements, another suspect, Vishwapal Chandrakant Jadhav, was arrested. His account had reportedly been used in at least seven cyber fraud cases across multiple states. Police are continuing their investigation to identify the masterminds behind the scam network.
Rise of ‘Digital Arrest’ Scams
Officials have warned that “digital arrest” scams — where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officers to create fear and control victims — are rapidly increasing across India. In these cases, victims are psychologically manipulated into believing they are under investigation or facing arrest, leading them to transfer large sums of money to avoid legal trouble.
Authorities have reiterated that no genuine police or NIA officer will ever ask for money transfers, personal account details, or prolonged video calls as part of an investigation. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant, hang up immediately on suspicious calls, and report such incidents to the National Cybercrime Helpline at 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in for assistance.
This alarming incident serves as a crucial reminder that in today’s digital age, not every “official” call is real — and fear can be the most powerful tool in a scammer’s arsenal.
