Fraudsters Allegedly Impersonated Delhi Police Officers and Kept the 73-Year-Old Victim Under Virtual Surveillance for Nearly Two Weeks

Mumbai Cyber Police have recovered approximately ₹1.1 crore from the ₹7.9 crore allegedly transferred by a 73-year-old businessman from Andheri West in a sophisticated digital arrest scam.

According to police, the fraudsters impersonated law enforcement officials, falsely linked the victim to a money laundering investigation and kept him under sustained psychological pressure from July 5 to July 18.

The businessman allegedly transferred money to at least six bank accounts before realising that he had been deceived. Investigators are tracing the remaining funds and attempting to identify the individuals operating the alleged cybercrime network.

FIR Registered With West Cyber Police

The businessman filed an FIR at the West Cyber Police Station on July 21.

He reportedly told police that unknown individuals had kept him under a so-called digital arrest for nearly two weeks and instructed him to remain available on WhatsApp calls and video conferences.

During this period, he allegedly transferred ₹7.9 crore in multiple transactions to bank accounts controlled by the fraud network.

Police have frozen and recovered around ₹1.1 crore so far.

Fraudsters Allegedly Impersonated Delhi Police Officers

According to investigators, the scam began with a WhatsApp call received at approximately 11:30 a.m. on July 5.

The caller allegedly introduced himself as a Delhi Police official and claimed that the businessman’s Aadhaar and PAN details had been used to open a bank account connected with a money laundering case.

The fraudsters allegedly referred to a case involving Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal to make their claims appear credible.

The reference was allegedly used as part of the impersonation attempt and does not indicate any connection between the businessman and the actual case.

Fake Arrest Threats Sent Through WhatsApp

The businessman later received a video call from another individual who allegedly identified himself as Rahul Gupta from Delhi Police.

According to the complaint, the caller claimed that an account opened using the victim’s identity had received approximately ₹7 crore connected with money laundering.

The fraudster allegedly threatened to issue an arrest warrant through WhatsApp unless the businessman cooperated with the supposed investigation.

Police have repeatedly clarified that legitimate arrest warrants are not issued through WhatsApp and that law enforcement agencies do not demand money during video-call interrogations.

Victim Told Not to Inform Family

The scammers allegedly described the matter as involving national security and instructed the businessman not to discuss it with anyone, including members of his family.

Investigators said such isolation tactics are commonly used in digital arrest scams to prevent victims from independently verifying the claims.

The businessman reportedly remained under continuous surveillance through calls and was pressured into following financial instructions issued by the fraudsters.

Money Transferred to Multiple Accounts

Believing that the callers were genuine officials, the victim allegedly transferred the money through multiple transactions to at least six different bank accounts, including one based in Delhi.

Police said he became suspicious only after the scammers demanded further payments and allegedly instructed him to take a bank loan after his savings had been exhausted.

He subsequently approached the cyber police and reported the fraud.

Nearly 200 Mule Accounts Under Investigation

The investigation has reportedly identified a laundering network involving nearly 200 mule bank accounts across five States.

Police suspect the stolen money was transferred through multiple accounts to conceal its origin, complicate the transaction trail and move the funds beyond the immediate reach of enforcement agencies.

Investigators are examining:

• Bank account opening records
• Know-your-customer documents
• Mobile numbers and digital identities
• Internet banking activity
• Fund transfer chains
• Withdrawal and conversion patterns

The involvement of individual account holders remains under investigation.

Police Had Attempted to Warn the Victim

According to officials, Delhi Police detected a suspicious transaction in one of the mule accounts and alerted relevant agencies.

Mumbai Cyber Police and local police personnel reportedly visited the businessman’s residence on two consecutive days in an attempt to warn him.

However, officers said the victim remained convinced that he was dealing with genuine law enforcement officials.

He allegedly refused to engage with the visiting police team, denied being targeted by cybercriminals and did not permit officers to enter his residence.

Investigators said this prevented them from intervening before further transfers were made.

I4C Helped Coordinate the Response

After freezing one beneficiary account, Delhi Police reportedly analysed the transaction trail and attempted to contact individuals whose funds had passed through it.

When repeated calls to the businessman were unsuccessful, the matter was escalated through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, commonly known as I4C.

I4C then coordinated with Mumbai Cyber Police to establish contact and assist with the investigation.

No Agency Conducts a Digital Arrest

Cybercrime officials have reiterated that digital arrest has no legal recognition.

Police, the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation or any other genuine authority will not:

• Arrest someone through a WhatsApp call
• Keep a person under video surveillance at home
• Demand money to prove innocence
• Ask for bank transfers to verify an account
• Send arrest warrants through messaging applications
• Prohibit a person from speaking to family members or lawyers

Any caller making such demands should be treated as suspicious.

Investigation Continues

Mumbai Cyber Police are tracing the remaining funds and examining the network of mule accounts used to route the alleged proceeds.

Further legal action may follow if investigators identify account operators, callers, money handlers or other facilitators connected with the fraud.

The allegations remain under investigation and have not yet been adjudicated by a court.