Another shocking case of cyber fraud has emerged from Mumbai, wherein a 58-year-old retired school teacher, Dinanath Mishra, lost Rs. 64 lakh after falling victim to a sophisticated ‘digital arrest’ scam. Mishra and his family have filed a complaint of this new and growing tactic among online criminals.
Mishra, a resident of Samyukta Nagar in Nalasopara East, was duped by cybercriminals who impersonated officials from various law enforcement agencies, including the TRAI, Delhi Police, and the Enforcement Directorate, Hindustan Times reports. The unfortunate incident began on March 7 when he received a call from a woman claiming to be from the TRAI’s notification cell. She informed him that he was allegedly linked to a money laundering and extortion case registered at Tilak Nagar Police Station in Delhi.
What followed was a chilling series of video calls where Mishra was placed under a so-called ‘digital arrest’ and even produced before a fake online court — complete with a “judge” and official-looking setup. Fearing arrest and further consequences, Mishra was coerced into transferring large sums of money.
Over the next two weeks, from March 7 to March 23, he paid Rs. 44 lakh initially and then another Rs. 20 lakh — liquidating his savings, borrowing from relatives, and even selling his wife’s jewellery to meet the demands. The gang had instructed him to remain silent, warning of dire consequences if he disclosed anything.
The truth only came to light when a relative questioned him about the borrowed money. Upon learning the full story, the family helped Mishra file a complaint at Achole Police Station, which has now registered a case.
This comes just days after a 70-year old retired doctor from Mumbai lost Rs. 2.89 crore in a similar scam. Cyber fraudsters impersonating government officials convinced her that she was involved in a money laundering case. For both the cases, investigations are underway. Police believe that the cases are a part of a growing wave of “digital detention” scams, where cybercriminals pose as law enforcement to intimidate victims—often elderly individuals—into handing over their money.
