Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Mumbai Man Loses ₹11.50 Lakh in Fake Digital Arrest
A 52-year-old man was called by someone pretending to be a police officer.
The caller said a bank account in the man’s name was connected to a terror attack.
The scammers sent fake documents to make the story seem real.
They told him to stay at home and keep his camera on.
They also threatened to arrest his family.
Frightened, the man sent them ₹11.50 lakh in several payments.
He realised it was a scam when they asked him to sell his family’s gold.
He then went to the police, who started investigating.
A 52-year-old teacher from Bhandara allegedly lost ₹11.50 lakh in a fake digital-arrest scam.
The caller posed as an Anti-Terrorism Squad officer and linked a supposed ₹7 crore account to the Pulwama terror attack.
Fraudsters sent forged documents, threatened to arrest the victim’s family, and kept him under video surveillance.
The victim transferred his savings in three transactions over four days for an alleged Reserve Bank of India verification.
The fraud came to light on August 28, and Mumbai cyber police registered a case and began tracing the accounts and digital footprints.
- Who
- A 52-year-old teacher from Bhandara was targeted by callers impersonating an Anti-Terrorism Squad officer.
- What
- The man was allegedly deceived into transferring ₹11.50 lakh in a fake digital-arrest and investigation scam.
- When
- He was targeted on August 12; the fraud came to light on August 28, with the report dated September 18, 2026.
- Where
- The case was registered with Mumbai cyber police; the victim reportedly hails from Bhandara and received the initial call on WhatsApp.
- Why
- The scammers falsely claimed that an account in his name was tied to ₹7 crore in transactions linked to the Pulwama terror attack and demanded money for supposed verification.
- Reported loss
- ₹11.50 lakh
- Victim
- 52-year-old teacher from Bhandara
- Initial contact
- WhatsApp call from an unknown number on August 12
- Scammer’s identity
- A person posing as a Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad officer
- False allegation
- A bank account in the victim’s name allegedly recorded ₹7 crore in transactions linked to the Pulwama terror attack
- Payment method
- Three transfers over four days to beneficiary accounts for an alleged Reserve Bank of India verification
- Investigation
- Mumbai cyber police are tracing the bank accounts and digital footprints of the accused