A 64-year-old retired bank operations manager from Mumbai’s Juhu was allegedly kept under “digital arrest” for 10 days and cheated of ₹3.8 crore, after fraudsters posing as Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) officers accused him of being linked to a terrorist funding case.
The victim, who lost his retirement savings, eventually became suspicious when the callers continued demanding more money despite already receiving ₹3.8 crore from him.
How The Scam Began
The fraud started on August 7, when the victim received a call from a man claiming to be Sub-Inspector Aakash Sharma from the ATS headquarters in Colaba.
The caller told him that an illegal SIM card had been purchased using his identity and Aadhaar details. He was then directed to another WhatsApp number, where a second fraudster allegedly posed as Inspector Prem Kumar Gautam from the Lucknow ATS.
The scammers escalated the threat, claiming that his documents had been used to open a bank account in Jammu and Kashmir, where ₹7 crore had allegedly been deposited and used to fund terrorist activities.
Fake Documents And Constant Video Calls
The fraudsters allegedly told the retired banker that a money-laundering case had been registered against him and that his name had surfaced following the arrest of an alleged terrorist.
To make the story appear genuine, they sent him a fake RBI letter claiming that the Supreme Court had issued an arrest warrant against him.
He was instructed not to tell his family about the case and was allegedly forced to remain on video calls for extended periods so the scammers could monitor his movements.
The fraudsters reportedly promised that his money would be returned after the “investigation” and that he would receive a Non-Involvement Certificate.
₹3.8 Crore Transferred
Believing the threats, the victim allegedly transferred around ₹3.8 crore, largely comprising his retirement funds.
The money was initially sent to four bank accounts before being moved through a network of around 150 accounts across several states, including suspected mule accounts.
The scammers, however, did not stop. When the victim asked for his money back, they allegedly demanded even more funds.
That raised his suspicion.
He contacted a friend who works as a bank manager, who told him that he had been caught in a cyber fraud.
The victim then approached the police.
Police Freeze Around ₹2 Crore
Mumbai Police registered an FIR at the West Cyber Police Station on August 21.
Investigators have so far managed to freeze around ₹2 crore routed through multiple bank accounts. Police said efforts are underway to trace the remaining money and identify those operating the accounts.
The victim was allegedly kept under “digital arrest” from August 7 to August 17.
The case once again highlights how digital arrest scammers use fake police identities, forged documents, threats of arrest and constant video surveillance to frighten victims into transferring large sums of money.
Remember: No police officer, court or government agency can place you under “digital arrest” or demand money over a video call to clear an investigation.
