A 70-year-old woman in Dehradun lost Rs 3.09 crore in an elaborate cyber fraud after scammers posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers subjected her to a prolonged “digital arrest” scam conducted through video calls, police officials said. Authorities have registered a case and launched an investigation while warning citizens to remain cautious against such intimidation-based frauds.
According to the complaint filed with the cyber police station, the ordeal began on September 1 last year when the woman received a video call from an individual claiming to be a CBI officer. The caller allegedly told her that her mobile number had been linked to a Rs 68 crore money-laundering case and warned that she faced imminent arrest. The fraudsters reportedly intensified the pressure by threatening legal action against her children if she disclosed the conversation to anyone, effectively isolating her and preventing her from seeking help.
Police said the accused convinced the victim that she was under constant surveillance and placed under what they described as a “digital arrest,” a tactic increasingly used in cyber scams to create fear and compliance. The callers instructed her to follow their directions strictly to avoid detention and legal consequences.
The scammers then claimed that transferring her money to specific bank accounts would serve as a temporary safeguard during the supposed investigation and assured her that the funds would be returned once the inquiry concluded. Believing the instructions were legitimate and fearing imprisonment, the woman began transferring large sums of money.
Between September and October 2025, she transferred a total of Rs 3.09 crore to accounts provided by the fraudsters. In order to meet the demands, she reportedly liquidated fixed deposits, sold shares, and even mortgaged her jewellery, convinced that each payment would protect her from arrest.
The fraud came to light only after she realised she had been deceived and approached the police, leading to the registration of a case on Friday. Investigators are now analysing call detail records, tracing the mobile numbers used in the scam, and examining the bank accounts that received the funds in an effort to identify the network behind the operation.
Officials said the case reflects a growing trend of “digital arrest” scams, in which criminals impersonate senior law enforcement or government officials through video calls to intimidate victims into transferring money. Authorities have urged the public not to panic when receiving such calls and advised citizens to independently verify any claims directly with official agencies before making financial transactions or sharing personal information.
