A 72-year-old retired banker from Pune lost ₹1.05 crore in a digital arrest scam after cyber fraudsters falsely claimed that he was involved in a money laundering and terror funding case. According to the Pune Cyber Police, the scammers impersonated officials from the Mumbai Police and used the names of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the Supreme Court to make the fake investigation appear genuine.

The fraud began on July 25 when the victim received a phone call claiming that his Aadhaar card and debit card had been linked to illegal financial activities. Soon after, he received a WhatsApp video call from a person posing as a police officer, complete with a background showing the national flag and the Maharashtra Police emblem. Over the next few days, the fraudsters sent forged documents, fake bank records, and repeated warnings that he could be arrested if he did not cooperate.

The scammers convinced the retired banker that his bank accounts needed to be verified as part of the investigation. They assured him that the money would be transferred to an RBI-controlled account and returned after the verification process. Trusting the fake officials, the victim prematurely broke his fixed deposits and transferred ₹1.05 crore to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.

After realizing he had been cheated, the victim approached the Pune Cyber Police, which registered an FIR and launched an investigation. Police are now tracing the bank accounts, digital evidence, and people involved in the scam. Investigators believe the accused used fake government documents and psychological pressure to keep the victim from discussing the matter with anyone.

The case highlights the growing threat of financial fraud through digital arrest scams across India. Lawenforcementdaily advises people to remember that no police officer, RBI official, ED officer, or court authority will ever ask citizens to transfer money for account verification or to avoid arrest. Anyone receiving such calls should immediately disconnect, verify the information through official channels, and report the incident to the cyber police.