Rising Cyber Scam 'Digital Arrest' Targets Vulnerable Victims Across India

Fraudsters posing as officials extort millions by falsely accusing victims of crimes and keeping them under virtual surveillance.

A 77-year-old Mumbai woman lost ₹3.8 crore after being kept under 'digital arrest' for a month, the longest recorded case of this scam in India.
Fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or government officials, using threats of arrest and fabricated evidence to coerce victims into transferring money.
Victims are instructed to stay connected via video or audio calls, isolating them and preventing them from seeking help or verifying the claims.
Cases span diverse demographics, including an IIT Bombay student who lost ₹7.29 lakh and a Faridabad man who was tricked into traveling to Bihar to transfer funds.
In Hyderabad, alert SBI bank staff prevented a senior citizen from losing ₹13 lakh by recognizing the scam and intervening in time.