Digital Arrest Scam in Pune: Two Senior Citizens Lose Rs 54 Lakh to Fake CBI and Crime Branch Callers

Pune, 13th November 2026: Two senior citizens in Pune have lost a combined Rs 54 lakh to “digital arrest” fraudsters who posed as CBI and crime branch officers, The Free Press Journal reported on Thursday. A 71-year-old man lost Rs 22 lakh and a 75-year-old woman from Karve Nagar lost Rs 32 lakh.

Cases have been registered at Vishrantwadi and Warje police stations. No arrests had been reported by Thursday evening.

How the two Pune victims were trapped

Case 1, Vishrantwadi (Rs 22 lakh): Between October 5 and 15, a caller claiming to be a senior Karnataka police officer, and later a CBI officer, told the 71-year-old that his SIM card had been misused in a child trafficking case.

He was threatened with a “digital arrest” and told to deposit money for a “digital verification” of his finances, which he was promised would be refunded. He transferred Rs 22 lakh to several accounts.

Police have registered the case under Sections 319(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act.

Case 2, Warje (Rs 32 lakh): From October 6 to November 6, callers posing as Nashik crime branch officers told a 75-year-old woman that her Aadhaar and bank account were linked to a Rs 2 crore fraud and a drug racket.

They sent a fake arrest warrant on a messaging app, kept her on video calls twice a day and told her not to tell her family.

She sent Rs 32 lakh by RTGS before she grew suspicious, according to the newspaper.

There is no such thing as a digital arrest

Indian law has no procedure called “digital arrest”. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has repeatedly warned that the CBI, ED, police, customs and courts do not arrest people over video calls or ask for money to “verify” accounts, as reported by The Tribune.

Any call that combines these signs is a scam:

• The caller says your SIM, Aadhaar, parcel or bank account is linked to drugs, trafficking or money laundering
• You are shown a “warrant”, ID card or police station background on a video call
• You are told to stay on camera and not tell family members
• You are asked to move money to a “safe” or “RBI verification” account

What to do if you get such a call

1. Hang up. Do not stay on the video call, however official it looks.

2. Do not transfer money or share OTPs, bank details or Aadhaar numbers.

3. Tell a family member or neighbour straight away. Scammers depend on secrecy.

4. Call the national cyber fraud helpline 1930, or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Reporting within the first hour gives banks the best chance to freeze the money.

5. Visit your nearest police station or the Pune City cyber police with call records and transaction details.

Why seniors are targeted

Both Pune victims were in their seventies, and both were kept isolated for days. Older people living alone, or alone during the day, are the most common targets. Families can help by talking about these calls openly and agreeing that no large transfer is made without a second person checking.

We covered a different trick last month in our report on the fake payment app fraud in Pune. More safety stories are in our Pune news section.

*This article is for general awareness and is not legal advice.*

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