A 60s Mangaluru woman lost her life savings of ₹3.9 crore to fraudsters posing as officials in a “digital arrest” scam.
Scammers claimed her ID was misused for a drug parcel, keeping her under constant fear and isolation.
Authorities urge citizens to verify such claims with official channels and avoid payments made under threats.
A retired woman in Karnataka was allegedly duped of her life savings of Rs 3.9 crore over a period of seven months after falling victim to a “digital arrest” scam, police said on Sunday. The Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police in Mangaluru have registered a case in connection with the incident. Investigators said the victim, in her sixties, had lived abroad with her husband before returning to Mangaluru a few years ago. Her husband died last year, and she was living alone.
SurveyAccording to police, the ordeal began on January 15, when the woman returned a missed call from an unfamiliar number. The caller, a woman claiming to be from the General Post Office, alleged that a parcel addressed to China, containing 150 grams of MDMA, had been intercepted and returned.
The caller warned that the offence carried a jail term of “75 years or more,” triggering panic. When the retiree denied sending any parcel, she was told that criminals had misused her identity card.
Police said the fraudsters used sophisticated psychological manipulation, posing as helpful officials while keeping her under constant contact. They forbade her from speaking to anyone about the matter and convinced her that paying 93% of her pension would help secure a “no-objection certificate” to clear her name.
On January 17, she transferred Rs 55 lakh to accounts provided by the scammers. Payments continued until July 4, ultimately totalling Rs 3.9 crore. The fraud was exposed only after the scammers stopped responding to her calls. Realising she had been deceived, the victim approached the police.
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“The victim had not shared details of the calls with her family, including her brother. If she had, the scam could have been averted,” an investigating officer said.
Police have warned the public about the growing menace of “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or government officials to extort money. They advised citizens to verify claims through official channels and to avoid making any payments based on threats or coercion.
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Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
