Pune: A 75-year-old woman from Karvenagar allegedly lost ₹32 lakh after cybercriminals subjected her to a digital arrest scam, falsely linking her Aadhaar details to a ₹2-crore financial fraud involving a Canara Bank branch in Nashik.
According to police, the woman began receiving calls from unidentified individuals on October 6. The callers allegedly accused her of being involved in a suspicious financial transaction and claimed that money connected to the alleged fraud had been routed through her bank account.
To intimidate her, the fraudsters reportedly threatened legal action, including arrest, and warned that her bank accounts and properties would be frozen if she did not follow their instructions. They allegedly presented the situation as an ongoing investigation and pressured her into transferring money to accounts provided by them.
Fearing arrest and believing the allegations, the woman transferred funds through the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) facility on several occasions. Between October 6 and November 6, she allegedly transferred a total of ₹32 lakh.
Despite receiving the money, the accused continued demanding further payments, raising suspicions about their intentions. The woman subsequently made inquiries, realised that she had fallen victim to cyber fraud and approached the police.
An FIR was registered on November 11 against unidentified persons at Warje police station. Police Inspector Suvarna Hulwan is investigating the case.
The incident highlights how cybercriminals continue to exploit fear of legal consequences and impersonate investigative authorities to extort money, particularly from vulnerable individuals.
