Bengaluru couple loses ₹4.75 crore in ‘digital arrest’ fraud, two from Hyderabad held

        

😨 How a Bengaluru Couple Lost ₹4.75 Crore in a “Digital Arrest” Scam

In June 2025, a Bengaluru couple from BTM Layout had their world turned upside down when they lost a staggering ₹4.75 crore to a highly organised international cyber‑fraud ring hyderabadpolice.gov.in+7indianexpress.com+7deccanherald.com+7. Here's their harrowing journey—and what we can learn to stay safe. 👇

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🕵️‍♂️ What exactly happened?

1. The Setup
   Since March, the retired engineer and his wife were contacted by fraudsters pretending to be SBI officials and CBI agents. Video calls, fake court documents—everything was staged to make the couple believe they were under "digital arrest" for money laundering hindustantimes.com+6indianexpress.com+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.

2. Emotional Manipulation
   Isolated from their children, the couple was coerced into transferring money—some of which they even pledged property papers to cover. They transferred a total of ₹4.7–4.75 crore across several bank accounts. indianexpress.com

3. Mule Accounts Surface
   Police traced ₹10 lakh to Eshwar Singh in Hyderabad. He claimed it was a casino refund and had fled to Sri Lanka. His involvement exposed the fraudsters’ tactic of routing stolen money via gamblers and unsuspecting businesspeople hyderabadpolice.gov.in+7indianexpress.com+7hindustantimes.com+7.

4. The Big Bust
   Two individuals from Hyderabad—Eshwar Singh and Ramnarayan Chowdhary (a departmental-store owner)—have been arrested. Investigators believe they helped launder victim funds via networked mule accounts indianexpress.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.

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🌍 It’s Not Just a Bangalore Problem

These “digital arrest” frauds are widespread. Victims across India—from a 68-year-old in Bengaluru losing ₹1.94 crore to a 90-year-old in Delhi defrauded of ₹3.42 crore—are fooled into believing fake legal threats indianexpress.com+7hindustantimes.com+7timesofindia.indiatimes.com+7.

Globally, these criminals are using hundreds of mule accounts, SIM cards activated internationally, and even Dubai-based operations to execute their network hindustantimes.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.

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🛡️ How to Protect Yourself

• 💬 Pause and Verify: No legitimate agency will arrest you digitally or threaten you over video calls.

• 📞 Consult First: Speak with family or legal help before complying.

• 🚨 Report ASAP: If in doubt, contact local cybercrime units or file an FIR immediately.

• 💳 Watch Your Accounts: Be cautious of official-sounding requests to transfer money—especially under pressure.

• 🔗 Monitor Latest Scams: Stay informed via trusted sources like ET, The Hindu, HT, and government advisories .

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🎯 Final Takeaways

• Scammers impersonate law enforcement and threaten victims into a false “digital arrest.”

• Emotion and intimidation are their key weapons—fear of legal trouble drives compliance.

• Money is laundered through mule accounts, casinos, or unwitting businesspeople—even crossing borders.

• Awareness saves lives—knowing the warning signs can prevent massive losses and heartbreak.

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🚨 A Handy Checklist: Digital Arrest Survival Kit

Action	✅ ✔️
Received a legal-sounding call or video message	☐
They asked you not to tell anyone	☐
They pulled official documents or IDs	☐
They demanded immediate huge transfers	☐
You thought, “What if it is real?”	☐

👉 If you ticked any of these, stop, connect with someone you trust, and contact cybercrime authorities—don’t go it alone.