Archive · 28 Nov 2025
Cyber Fraud Surge: Victims Targeted via Digital Arrests
Cyber criminals are using a new trick called 'digital arrest' to scare and cheat people, especially older adults.
They call victims pretending to be police or other officials and say the victims are in trouble for something they didn't do, like being involved in a terror attack.
They threaten to arrest the victims unless they pay money.
Many people have lost a lot of money this way.
The police have caught some of the criminals, but more cases are still happening.
The criminals use fake documents and calls to make their threats seem real.
The police advise people to report such calls immediately instead of paying money.
Cyber criminals are using 'digital arrests' to extort money from victims by impersonating law enforcement.
Victims, primarily senior citizens, are threatened with fake legal consequences and forced to transfer money.
Multiple cases reported, with victims losing significant amounts of money, including Rs 51,20,000, Rs 1.44 crore, and Rs 43.70 lakh.
Police have arrested 13 accused across seven districts in Maharashtra and formed special teams to combat the rising number of such cases.
Victims are advised to report such incidents to the police immediately instead of paying the demanded money.
- Who
- Cyber criminals impersonating law enforcement, targeting senior citizens
- What
- Cyber fraud through 'digital arrests', threatening victims with fake legal consequences
- When
- Multiple incidents reported between July and November 2025
- Where
- Bhopal, Pune, Mumbai, Noida, and other locations in India
- Why
- To extort money by creating fear and threatening victims with fake arrests and legal actions
- Victims
- Multiple, including a 68-year-old lawyer, a 57-year-old woman, a 70-year-old chartered accountant, a 63-year-old man, and a 76-year-old woman
- Modus Operandi
- Impersonating law enforcement, threatening victims with fake arrests and legal consequences
- Amount Defrauded
- Rs 51,20,000, Rs 1.44 crore, Rs 20,40,000, Rs 43.70 lakh, and other amounts
- Arrests Made
- 13 accused across seven districts in Maharashtra
- Total Cases
- 142 cases of ‘digital arrests’ in Mumbai, Rs 114 crore lost
- Legal Action
- FIRs filed under various sections of the IT Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Police Response
- Special teams formed to counter the rising number of digital arrest cases
- Victim Profile
- Primarily senior citizens
Sources
Four behind cyber fraud racket defrauding people of Rs 5 crore arrested
Special teams arrest 13 across seven districts involved in ‘digital arrests’
Bhopal lawyer commits suicide after cyber criminals told him his name was linked to Pahalgam terror attack
