Bengaluru software Engineer Loses ₹31.83 Crore in Elaborate “Digital Arrest” Scam
A Bengaluru-based software engineer was defrauded of approximately ₹31.83 crore (roughly $3.8 million USD) over six months in a complex digital arrest scam involving impersonation of officials from DHL, the CBI, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The case highlights the growing threat of increasingly complex online fraud targeting high-value individuals.
A 57-year-old resident of Bengaluru first received a suspicious phone call on September 15, 2024, from individuals falsely claiming to be DHL employees. They alleged a parcel originating from Mumbai contained illegal items – four passports, three credit cards, and the drug MDMA. When the complainant stated she had no connection to Mumbai or the parcel, the fraudsters quickly pivoted, suggesting her personal facts may have been compromised and reporting the incident as a cybercrime was necessary.
Within moments,the call was transferred to individuals posing as officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). These imposters allegedly threatened the complainant with immediate arrest and explicitly forbade her from contacting the police. The fraudsters then initiated a period of intense surveillance,monitoring the complainant’s activities via Skype and falsely claiming she was under house arrest.
The scheme escalated as the fraudsters demanded full disclosure of the complainant’s assets to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under the RBI,claiming this was the only path to exoneration. Between September 24 and October 22, 2024, the victim provided complete access to her bank accounts.The fraudsters then pressured her to transfer 90% of her assets into accounts under their control.
A fake clearance certificate was issued to the complainant on December 1, 2024, with a promise of a full refund in february 2025, contingent on further payments. However, all contact with the fraudsters ceased abruptly on March 26, 2025. An investigation revealed the complainant had made a staggering 187 separate transactions, resulting in a total loss of ₹31.83 crore.
Police have registered a case and initiated a full investigation into the incident. this case serves as a stark warning about the evolving tactics employed by cybercriminals and the devastating financial consequences of falling victim to such schemes. Authorities are urging citizens to remain vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious communications to the appropriate law enforcement agencies,rather than engaging with potential fraudsters.
Why did this happen? This elaborate scam targeted a Bengaluru software engineer through a sophisticated “digital arrest” scheme, exploiting fear and impersonating legitimate authorities to gain access to her finances. The fraudsters leveraged a false claim of illegal items being shipped from Mumbai to initiate contact and escalate the situation.
Who was involved? The victim was a 57-year-old Bengaluru-based software engineer. the perpetrators were a group of cybercriminals impersonating employees of DHL,the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),and the financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
What occurred? The scam began with a fraudulent call alleging a parcel containing illegal items was linked to the victim. This quickly evolved into threats of arrest, a fabricated “house arrest” situation, and demands for full financial disclosure. Over six months, the victim made 187 transactions, transferring ₹31.83 crore to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
How did it end? The fraudsters abruptly ceased all contact on March 26, 2025, after issuing a fake clearance certificate and promising a refund contingent on further payments. An investigation revealed the extent of the financial loss, and police have registered a case, initiating a full
