Pune, 2nd June 2026: A major cyber fraud case involving an 87-year-old doctor from Deccan has once again highlighted how cyber criminals are targeting wealthy and elderly citizens through fake 'digital arrest' scams.
The fraudsters allegedly impersonated officers from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch and threatened the doctor with legal action before cheating him of ₹46 lakh.
The case, which surfaced on Monday, has raised concerns over the increasing number of cyber frauds in Pune. Criminals are using fear tactics, fake identities, and stolen personal information to trap victims, while police continue to face challenges in tracing the masterminds behind such organized scams.
Investigators believe scammers obtain sensitive information through illegal data markets on the dark web and from unauthorized data brokers. Citizens often unknowingly share personal details while using shopping apps, online offers, insurance services, and digital platforms.
Police officials said stolen databases containing names, phone numbers, passwords, banking details, and identity records are frequently sold to cyber criminals. Information is also collected from:
Social media platforms
Matrimonial websites
Job portals
Other online services and apps
The data is then analyzed based on age, financial status, and lifestyle to identify wealthy or vulnerable targets.
According to police, senior citizens living alone, retired officials, and parents whose children live abroad are among the most vulnerable victims because they often have pension savings or retirement funds in their accounts.
Fraudsters usually contact victims claiming:
Electricity or gas bills are unpaid
Bank accounts have been frozen
Criminal complaints have been registered in their names
In many cases, scammers pretend to be officials from agencies such as CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED), Customs Department and Police departments.
Victims are falsely told that drugs were found in parcels linked to them or that their identity documents were used in money laundering activities.
To make the scam appear genuine, fraudsters conduct video calls while wearing police uniforms and showing fake police station backgrounds. Victims are then forced to download screen-sharing apps, giving criminals access to their phones and banking information.
Under the pretext of 'digital bail' or investigation clearance, victims are pressured into transferring large sums of money, often through cryptocurrency channels that are difficult to trace.
Police have also noticed a sharp increase in matrimonial scams and online task frauds. In matrimonial scams, victims are emotionally manipulated and later asked to pay customs duties or emergency charges. In online task frauds, people are promised easy earnings through social media likes, comments, or reviews before being tricked into investing large amounts of money.
Cyber experts and police officials have advised citizens to:
Never share OTPs, passwords, or banking details over calls
Avoid downloading unknown screen-sharing applications
Stay away from suspicious lottery or reward links
Verify claims with family members or police before transferring money.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Economic and Cyber Crime Branch) Vivek Masal said, “There is no legal concept of ‘digital arrest’ under Indian law. Genuine investigating agencies never conduct arrests or demand money through video calls. Citizens should not panic if they receive suspicious calls and must verify such claims with the nearest police station before taking any action.”
Cyber Fraud Complaint Helpline:
Citizens can report cyber frauds through Cybercrime Helpline at 1930 or Website at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
