Cyber fraudsters exploit elderly ₹3 Cr lost in Dehradun ‘Digital Arrest’ case

In a startling case of cyber fraud, a 70-year-old woman in Dehradun was allegedly duped of more than ₹3 crore by fraudsters impersonating officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) , police said on Sunday.

According to officials, the woman received a video call on September 1, 2025 , in which the caller identified himself as a CBI officer. He informed her that her phone number had allegedly surfaced in a ₹68 crore money-laundering case and warned that she would face arrest and imprisonment. She was further threatened that disclosing the matter to anyone could also result in legal action against her children.

To avoid arrest, the woman was instructed to transfer her funds to accounts specified by the accused, with assurances that the money would be returned after the investigation concluded. Between September and October 2025, she transferred a total of ₹3.09 crore , reportedly breaking her fixed deposits, selling shares, and mortgaging her jewellery to comply with the fraudsters’ demands.

The Cyber Police Station in Dehradun has registered a case and launched an investigation. Authorities are collecting call details and scrutinising bank accounts involved in the transactions.

Despite repeated warnings in the media over the past year about the so-called ‘digital arrest’ scam , awareness among the public remains limited, experts say. Many elderly citizens, often not tech-savvy, continue to fall prey to such schemes, highlighting the urgent need for widespread awareness campaigns and stricter preventive measures.

“Fraudsters are exploiting fear and misinformation. It’s crucial for people, especially seniors, to know that law enforcement agencies never call citizens to demand money ,” a police official stated.