A Bengaluru-based software professional was cheated of nearly Rs 2 crore after falling victim to a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam. The woman, identified as Babita Das, was living with her 10-year-old
son in a flat at Vignan Nagar and working with a software company when the fraud began in June.
She received a call from a man claiming to be a courier official. He told her that a suspicious package linked to her Aadhaar card had been seized. Soon after, the call was transferred to people posing as officers from the Mumbai Police, who accused her of being involved in illegal activities.
Threats and fear used as weapons
The fake police officers threatened Babita with immediate arrest and ordered her not to leave her house until their “verification” was completed. They asked her to install a specific mobile application, claiming it was required for official monitoring.
The scammers went a step further by threatening her son. They warned that her child would face serious consequences if she did not follow their instructions. Fearful for her son’s safety and future, Babita believed the callers and cooperated fully.
Under constant pressure, Babita was told to arrange large sums of money to prove her innocence. To meet their demands, she sold two residential plots she owned in Malur at distress prices. Even this was not enough for the fraudsters.
She was then forced to sell her Vignan Nagar flat, where she lived with her son. The money from these property sales was transferred directly to bank accounts provided by the scammers. In desperation, she also took a bank loan and paid that amount to them as well.
Rs 2 crore gone
In total, Babita lost around Rs 2 crore to the fraudsters. After taking the money, the callers suddenly changed their tone. They told her to visit a nearby police station to retrieve the amount and then abruptly cut the call. Soon after, their phones were switched off, leaving her with no way to contact them.
Police investigation
Realising she had been cheated, Babita approached the Whitefield Cyber Crime Police Station and filed a formal complaint. The police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the digital arrest scam.
Officials have once again warned the public that police or government agencies never conduct arrests or investigations over video calls or demand money. They have urged citizens to remain alert and report such calls immediately.
