Kolkata: Army Officer’s Widow Loses ₹15 Lakh in Cyber ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam
A 69-year-old widow of a senior Indian Army officer in Kolkata was cheated out of Rs 15 lakh after cybercriminals posing as Mumbai Police officers trapped her in a so-called “digital arrest” scam, police said.
The fraud took place on October 13 and 14, when the woman was contacted by callers who claimed she was linked to serious criminal cases. The impostors also falsely told her that all mobile numbers registered in her name had been seized and warned her that she could be arrested immediately.
To make the deception appear credible, the fraudsters held video interactions in which they appeared in police uniform and showed forged documents carrying official seals and the national emblem. Fearing legal trouble, the woman shared personal and banking information with them.
Believing she was acting on official instructions to clear her name, she transferred Rs 15 lakh to bank accounts provided by the scammers.
The matter came to light after she filed a complaint, following which an FIR was registered on October 20. Kalighat police and the south division cyber cell are now investigating the case. Officers are tracing the beneficiary accounts and the phone numbers used by the callers, while also examining transaction trails to identify other suspects and determine whether a larger network is involved.
A senior divisional police officer said such scams often succeed because older adults tend to place a high degree of trust in government institutions such as the CBI or Customs. According to the officer, when fraudsters show forged papers with official seals or the national emblem during video calls, victims often comply out of fear rather than question the claims.
Police have reiterated that genuine officers do not ask for money or bank details over phone calls or messages. They urged people, especially senior citizens, to end suspicious calls immediately and report them on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in or at the nearest police station.
Authorities also stressed that there is no legal provision for a “digital arrest.” Law enforcement agencies do not place people under virtual custody, demand money transfers to “clear” their names, or ask them to keep the investigation secret from family members.
The investigation is continuing, and no arrests have been reported in the case so far.
