Munirka Couple Loses Rs 15.5 Lakh in Digital Arrest Scam
· India · Indian Express, The Hindu
A 78-year-old retired Armyman and his wife, residents of Munirka in Southwest Delhi, were coerced into transferring Rs 15.5 lakh to scammers posing as CBI officials. The perpetrators initiated the fraud with a fake electricity bill notice and subsequently claimed the couple was involved in a money-laundering case linked to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal. During a 48-hour 'digital arrest', the victims were kept under constant surveillance via video calls and threatened with legal action under the Foreign Exchange Management Act. The scammers further intimidated the couple by sending them photographs of their own residence and surrounding buildings to create a false sense of being watched. The victims eventually surrendered their savings under the belief that they were participating in an official RBI verification process.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the rising threat of 'digital arrest' scams targeting elderly citizens, where fraudsters use psychological manipulation and fake official credentials to drain personal savings.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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