Pune, 30 October 2025: A shocking case of cyber fraud turned deadly when an 82-year-old retired state government officer from Pune collapsed and died after discovering that he and his 80-year-old wife had been looted of ₹1.19 crore in a “digital arrest” scam.
The fraud took place between August 16 and September 17, when scammers posing as Mumbai Cyber Police and CBI officials manipulated the elderly couple into believing they were involved in a money-laundering case. The couple, who have three daughters settled abroad, were kept under what the fraudsters called “digital arrest” for three days.
According to police, the ordeal began when the victim received a call from a person claiming to be a Mumbai Police “encounter specialist.” The caller alleged that his bank account and Aadhaar details were linked to a money-laundering racket involving a private airline. Shortly after, another fraudster posing as a CBI officer from Delhi called and threatened the couple with arrest.
Following their instructions, the elderly man kept his phone camera on at all times, allowing the fraudsters to monitor their every move. Over three days, the conmen collected the couple’s bank and Aadhaar details and forced them into transferring their life savings into five different bank accounts.
The scam wiped out the couple’s savings, including funds sent by their daughters from abroad. When the fraudulent calls abruptly stopped, they realised they had been duped. The victim collapsed at home on October 22, deeply distressed by the loss, and was declared dead after being taken to hospital.
The man’s wife later filed a complaint with Pune Cyber Police, who confirmed that the fraud had been carried out by a gang impersonating government officials. Senior Inspector Swapnali Shinde said the investigation is underway to trace the accounts and phone numbers used in the crime.
Cybercrime expert Rohan Nyayadhish said people must remember that arrests cannot happen over a phone call and that no genuine authority will ever demand personal details or money. He urged citizens to verify such calls with local police before responding and to stay calm instead of panicking.
Police have once again appealed to citizens, especially senior citizens, to remain cautious against cyber frauds involving fake officials and digital threats.
