A 77-year-old retired doctor was duped of over ₹13 crore after being manipulated through a series of WhatsApp video calls by scammers posing as law enforcement officials.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the fraud began with a video call from individuals claiming to be police officers. To make their story believable, they appeared in uniform and operated from a setting designed to look like an official police station. The woman was told she was linked to a money laundering case and could face arrest.
The situation quickly escalated when she was directed to join what seemed like a virtual court hearing. During this interaction, another fraudster, posing as a judge, allegedly warned her of serious legal consequences if she did not comply with their instructions.
Over the next two weeks, the scammers kept her constantly engaged on video calls, a tactic they described as “digital arrest.” They ensured she stayed isolated, discouraging her from speaking to anyone else, while maintaining an atmosphere of fear and urgency.
Gradually, they convinced her that her bank accounts and assets needed to be “verified” as part of the investigation. Acting under pressure, she transferred money across multiple accounts over a period of around 16 days, eventually losing nearly $1.6 million, which amounts to more than ₹13 crore.
The fraud came to light only after the calls suddenly stopped. The victim then approached the police, who were able to recover only a fraction of the amount, with the rest still unaccounted for.
Officials say such “digital arrest” scams are becoming increasingly common, with fraudsters using well-planned setups, impersonation, and psychological tactics to target unsuspecting individuals. Many of these operations are believed to be run from organised scam centres in countries like Cambodia and Myanmar.
Authorities have once again warned the public that no legitimate police or judicial process is conducted over WhatsApp or video calls. People are advised to verify any such claims independently and avoid transferring money under pressure.
