Mangaluru: Woman cheated of Rs 42 lakh in online ‘digital arrest’ scam

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 23, 2025: A woman from Mangaluru lost ₹42 lakh after falling victim to an online fraud carried out under the guise of a “digital arrest,” police said. The Central Crime and Economic (CEN) police station has registered a case.

According to the complaint, on October 7, the victim received a call from an unidentified person claiming to be an officer from the Colaba Police Station in Mumbai. The caller alleged that a new SIM card had been issued in her name and instructed her to travel to Mumbai. When she said she was unable to do so, she was asked to write a letter and send it via WhatsApp.

 

Later, the caller conducted a WhatsApp video call, posing as a CBI officer, and mentioned names of RBI officials and Supreme Court judges to appear convincing. He then obtained the woman’s personal and bank details.

Between October 8 and 17, following the caller’s instructions, the woman transferred a total of ₹42,00,150 in multiple transactions to various bank accounts.

When the fraudster demanded more money, she grew suspicious and informed her children and sister, after which she realized she had been cheated. She subsequently filed a complaint with the Mangaluru CEN police, stating that unknown persons had exploited the pretext of a “digital arrest” to extort money from her.