Hyderabad senior loses ₹72 lakh in digital arrest scam.
Hyderabad: 82-Year-Old Cheated of ₹72 Lakh in Chilling ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam
In yet another shocking reminder of how cybercriminals prey on the most vulnerable, an 82-year-old resident of Hyderabad’s upscale Banjara Hills has lost his hard-earned savings of ₹72 lakh to a cruel scam known as a “digital arrest.” The incident has left his family devastated and has once again exposed the terrifying lengths fraudsters go to manipulate and mentally break their victims.
On the screen appeared a man wearing what looked like an official police uniform. Without wasting time, he accused the victim of being linked to a money-laundering case.
The caller told the unsuspecting senior that a bank account had been fraudulently opened using his Aadhaar card, and his name was now registered as one of the accused. To make it sound real, he showed fake documents and official-looking seals on camera. For a man who had lived an honest, law-abiding life for more than eight decades, the shock was paralysing.
Soon came the most chilling part—the scammers declared that he was now under a “digital arrest.” He was sternly instructed not to step out of his home, not to speak to anyone—not even family—and to remain fully available on calls for questioning. Fearful of being treated like a criminal, the man complied. For the next ten days, he was virtually imprisoned in his own home, under constant watch and psychological assault.
The criminals didn’t stop there. The very next morning, they made him join another video call. This time, the screen projected what was presented as the Supreme Court of India. On the other end was another fraudster pretending to be a senior judge. The victim was told to give a statement and warned that any misstep could land him behind bars. The performance was so convincing that he truly believed his future—and freedom—hung by a thread.
Living in constant fear and humiliation, the elderly man eventually obeyed when asked to transfer money. Over the course of those ten days, he sent a staggering ₹72 lakh to multiple bank accounts provided by the gang, believing it was a security deposit until the “investigation” cleared his name. Each transfer felt like an act of desperation to prove his innocence and escape the nightmare.
It was only when the fraudsters returned with further demands—asking for even more money—that something inside him snapped. Realising that no legitimate process could possibly work this way, he gathered courage and finally approached the police.
Cybercrime officials later confirmed that he had become the latest victim of a fast-spreading menace called “digital arrest,” where gangs use impersonation, fake courts, doctored video calls, and relentless intimidation to psychologically imprison victims while draining their savings.
For the victim’s family, the episode has been traumatic. “He’s always been so careful with money and technology. We never imagined something like this could happen to him,” a relative said, visibly shaken. “He is still haunted by the fear that someone might arrest him. It’s heartbreaking.”
Police have assured the family that a detailed investigation is underway, and efforts are being made to track the money trail. Officers have also urged citizens—especially the elderly—to stay alert and never trust unsolicited calls that claim to be from law enforcement or the judiciary.
The incident underscores how cybercriminals are weaponizing fear and trust to trap innocent people. In the quiet home of an 82-year-old, the crime wasn’t just financial—it was psychological captivity that left scars money cannot heal.