₹100 Crore Looted in 19 Months: How Scammers Are Plundering the Bank Accounts of the Elderly

The rising number of "digital arrest" cases across the country is becoming a major cause for concern; in Pune alone, cyber scammers have swindled over ₹100 crore in just a year and a half.

Incidents of "digital arrest" scams have been on the rise nationwide. In Pune, Maharashtra, cyber fraudsters have swindled ₹100 crore through such scams over a period of 19 months. Senior citizens have been the hardest hit; between January 2025 and June 2026, 136 cases of digital arrest scams were reported.

Police state that digital arrest scams pose a serious threat to the elderly, as victims have lost crores of rupees in various incidents. The Pune Cyber ​​Police have warned the public not to share sensitive information with anyone—even if the caller claims to be a police officer or government official and attempts blackmail via phone or video call—to avoid falling prey to these scams.

Fraud in Just 7 Months of 2026 Rivals the Total for All of 2025

Cyber ​​scammers have intensified their activities to such an extent that the financial losses incurred by victims in the first seven months of 2026 nearly equal the total losses recorded throughout 2025. Pune Cyber ​​Police reported that 85 digital arrest cases occurred in 2025, resulting in a total loss of ₹53.52 crore. Additionally, 51 cases were reported in the first seven months of 2026, with victims losing a total of ₹46.27 crore.

A Breakdown of the Amounts Lost and When They Were Lost This is the largest cyber fraud case reported in Pune, involving an 82-year-old man who lost ₹10.75 crore. According to reports, the fraud occurred between January 23 and January 31, 2026. The victim, who had moved to Pune from North India 15 years ago, lost his savings and the funds held in fixed deposits due to this scam.

Another similar case came to light in May 2026, in which an 87-year-old man was swindled out of ₹3.46 crore. The victim is a retired executive; according to the Pune Cyber ​​Police, fraudsters posed as CBI officers, alleged his involvement in a fake money laundering case, and extorted ₹3.46 crore from him.