83-Year-Old Mira Road Resident Loses ₹30 Lakh in ‘Digital Arrest’ Cyber Fraud

Mira Road: An 83-year-old retired senior citizen from the Delta Garden locality in Kashimira, Mira Road, was duped of ₹30.46 lakh after cyber fraudsters threatened him with a “digital arrest.”

According to police, the scammers posed as officers from the Mumbai Crime Bureau and contacted the victim through a WhatsApp video call. They falsely accused him of financial misconduct and warned of immediate arrest and imprisonment. Under the guise of an interrogation, the fraudsters obtained details of his bank accounts and nine fixed deposits.

Frightened by the threats, the elderly man first transferred money into his own account and then sent ₹30.46 lakh via RTGS to the account provided by the scammers. The fraud came to light when he informed his daughter, who immediately reported the incident to the Kashimira Police Station and the Cyber Cell.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the Information Technology Act, 2000, against unknown suspects and the holder of the beneficiary account. Police said further investigation is underway.

Officials noted that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting senior citizens, exploiting their limited awareness of digital security. The “digital arrest” scam has emerged as one of the latest methods used to intimidate and defraud elderly individuals.