Delhi Police prevented potential cyber fraud worth ₹1.53 crore across five states by helping senior citizens targeted through digital arrest and investment scams. (AI Image/Pankaj Rai)
New Delhi: Delhi Police’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit has prevented potential cyber fraud worth approximately ₹1.53 crore across five cases involving victims in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The operation targeted fraudsters who allegedly impersonated law enforcement officials during video calls to intimidate senior citizens through threats of “digital arrest”.
Under the supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjay Bhatia and the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Police Anvesh Roy, the team identified vulnerable victims by tracing suspicious bank transactions. Coordinating with bank officials, the national cybercrime helpline and police in the concerned states, officers intervened to prevent further financial losses.
The IFSO unit’s financial monitoring wing deployed a specialised team to identify and protect potential victims before further money could be transferred. Rather than waiting for complaints, officers followed suspicious banking transactions to reach people who were allegedly being manipulated by cybercriminals.
The team worked with bank officials, the national cybercrime helpline 1930 and police departments in the affected states to help victims understand the fraud, report the incidents and stop additional transfers.
A 77-year-old retired Airports Authority of India employee from Najafgarh, Delhi, had allegedly been kept under the threat of digital arrest since September 17. According to police, he had already transferred ₹25 lakh to the fraudsters.
The elderly man, who lived with his wife, believed that the people communicating with him through video calls were genuine police officers. The suspects were allegedly demanding another ₹3 lakh and pressuring him to mortgage his gold and silver.
The IFSO team patiently explained the scam, shared awareness videos through WhatsApp and encouraged him to verify the claims through helpline 1930. Officers also helped obtain transaction details from the bank and assisted with filing a complaint.
The victim gained confidence when an officer from Dwarka Cyber Police Station visited his residence. The intervention reportedly prevented a further potential loss of approximately ₹3.48 lakh.
An 80-year-old textile businessman in Rajasthan had allegedly lost ₹18 lakh to cyber fraudsters. Living with his wife after the death of his son, he was reportedly being pressured to pay another ₹10 lakh.
The suspects allegedly attempted to make him mortgage his house to arrange the money. The IFSO team helped him contact Rajasthan’s cybercrime helpline and file a complaint, preventing the additional transfer of ₹10 lakh.
In Uttar Pradesh, a retired nurse and her husband, an approximately 70-year-old railway employee, were allegedly threatened with implication in a case linked to a terrorist incident. The couple had reportedly transferred around ₹52 lakh to the fraudsters.
The suspects were allegedly attempting to persuade them to break a fixed deposit worth ₹10 lakh. Timely intervention by the police team helped prevent the additional transfer.
In Maharashtra, a 65-year-old hospital assistant had allegedly been defrauded of approximately ₹85 lakh. The suspects were reportedly pressuring the victim to transfer another ₹55 lakh from fixed deposits held in the names of the victim’s daughter and son-in-law.
The IFSO team helped the family approach Maharashtra’s cybercrime helpline and file a complaint, protecting the additional savings from being transferred.
In Gujarat, a 50-year-old businessman had transferred ₹25 lakh to a suspicious account after being approached with an investment offer. He was reportedly planning to invest approximately ₹1 crore in total.
Through continued monitoring and follow-up, the IFSO team helped him recognise the suspected fraud and stop further payments. This intervention reportedly prevented a potential additional loss of ₹75 lakh.
Delhi Police has clarified that there is no legal procedure known as “digital arrest” in India. Genuine police officers and officials from agencies such as the CBI, NIA, TRAI, RBI or courts do not demand money over video calls by threatening arrest or claiming that funds must be transferred for account verification.
Residents are advised to remain calm if they receive such calls, avoid transferring money and never share OTPs or banking information with unknown callers.
Victims or people who suspect cyber fraud should immediately contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or submit a complaint through the official portal: cybercrime.gov.in.
DCP Anvesh Roy appealed to the public to remain alert, explaining that fear is a key weapon used by cybercriminals. Awareness and timely reporting, police said, can help protect families and their life savings.
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