An elderly NRI couple in Delhi was allegedly duped of more than ₹14 crore after being placed under a so-called “digital arrest” by cyber fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials, police said.
The scam came to light after a 77-year-old woman from Greater Kailash reported that she had been virtually detained for days through continuous video calls and threats of legal action.
How the couple was scammed
According to Delhi Police, the woman received a call in December last year claiming that a SIM card registered in her name was linked to a money laundering case. The callers, posing as police and CBI officials, frightened her by showing forged arrest warrants and staging fake online “court proceedings”.
Under constant surveillance and intimidation, the couple was coerced into transferring money to multiple bank accounts to “clear” the case. Over time, more than ₹14.84 crore was siphoned off through mule accounts controlled by the fraud network.
Who were behind the scam
Police arrested eight accused across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, uncovering a cyber-fraud racket with links to Cambodia and Nepal. Those arrested include Divyang Patel, Krutik Shitole, Mahavir Sharma, Ankit Mishra, Arun Kumar Tiwari, Pradyuman Tiwari, Bhupender Kumar Mishra and Aadesh Kumar Singh.
Several worked as private employees, tutors and priests, while police also seized mobile phones and chequebooks during the operation. Further investigation is ongoing.
