Pune: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a 70-year-old woman from Kothrud lost ₹2.5 crore after being deceived by cybercriminals posing as officials from the Maharashtra Police and Enforcement Directorate (ED). The fraudsters linked her name to the Naresh Goyal money laundering case and pressured her into transferring large sums of money.
To maintain control over the victim, the scammers convinced her that she was under "digital arrest", forcing her to upload a selfie every two hours to prove her compliance.
Fake Police Call Led to Financial Ruin
The fraud began in February 2025, when the woman received a call from a man claiming to be a Nashik Police officer. He informed her that a bank account in Nashik had been linked to a money laundering case involving Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
When the woman denied any involvement, the caller escalated the pressure, demanding her bank account details and financial records. Shortly afterward, another caller, claiming to be an officer from Gangapur Police Station, told her that her name may have been falsely implicated in the case and that they could help her clear it.
‘Digital Arrest’ and Coerced Money Transfers
A few days later, the victim received an official-looking ED notice, stating that she was under digital arrest and being monitored. She was instructed to upload a selfie every two hours as proof of her compliance.
The fraudsters convinced her that to prove her innocence, she needed to "temporarily transfer" her money to a government account. They sent her forged documents and fake emails to gain her trust.
₹2.5 Crore Lost in 74 Transactions
Between February 19 and March 10, the woman made 74 transactions, transferring a total of ₹2.5 crore from her bank accounts. The fraudsters manipulated her into breaking her fixed deposits (FDs) and withdrawing investments to send the money.
However, when she eventually asked for her money back, the fraudsters cut off all communication. Realizing she had been scammed, she reported the case to the Cyber Crime branch.