In what could perhaps be the longest cyber fraud in Karnataka, a 57-year-old techie woman was allegedly duped of Rs 32 crore in a digital arrest scam that lasted for over six months.
According to news agency PTI, posing as CBI officers, the fraudsters enforced "digital arrest" by holding the software engineer, staying in Indiranagar in Bengaluru, under constant Skype surveillance.
It all began on September 15, 2024, when she received a call from a person claiming to be from DHL Andheri, alleging that a parcel booked in her name contained credit cards, passports, and MDMA. She was told that her identity had been misused.
Before the woman could respond, the call was transferred to people posing as CBI officers, who threatened her and claimed that all the evidence was against her.
The accused warned her against contacting the police, saying criminals were watching her home.
Fearing for her family and the upcoming wedding of her son, she chose to stay silent.
The impostors asked her to install two Skype IDs and be on video. They monitored her every move for weeks while an impersonator posing as a senior CBI officer pressured her to prove her innocence.
The impostors appeared to know her phone activity and location, and she grew all the more frightened.
They told her to verify all her assets with the Financial Intelligence Unit of the RBI and produced forged letters to make it appear official.
From 24 September to 22 October, she shared details of her finances and transferred large sums. Between 24 October and 3 November, she deposited a supposed surety amount of Rs 2 crore, followed by further payments for "taxes".
She was promised a clearance letter before her son's engagement on December 6, and received one.
The entire ordeal took a physical and mental toll on her, and she fell seriously ill. The victim required a month of medical treatment to get well.
"All this time I had to report over Skype where I am and what I am doing. This person, Pradeep Singh, was in touch daily. I was told that money will be returned by February 25 after completion of all procedures," she was quoted as saying.
After December, the scammers demanded processing charges, repeatedly delaying refunds to February, then March.
All communication stopped on March 26, 2025. The complainant waited until after her son's wedding in June to come forward and lodge a complaint.
The accused used threats of arrest to coerce her into sharing all financial details and to make 187 bank transfers.
"In total, through 187 transactions, I stand deprived of a total amount of approximately Rs 31.83 crore, which were deposited by me," she said.
The woman has asked the authorities to investigate the entire incident, following which a case has been registered.
