Two Nagpur residents lose Rs 32.80 lakh to cyber fraudsters posing as police in 'digital arrest' scams

Two cases of cyber fraudsters posing as police officers and cheating people of lakhs of rupees in the name of "digital arrest" have come to light in Nagpur. A retired government officer and a 74-year-old woman were allegedly threatened with being implicated in serious cases involving links to terrorists, money laundering and suspicious bank transactions. Money was taken from them by applying pressure over video calls and instilling fear of legal action.

In the two cases together, a total of Rs 32.80 lakh was defrauded. Rs 10 lakh was extorted from the retired officer, while the elderly woman lost Rs 22.80 lakh. The incidents have raised concern that cyber criminals are growing bolder.

On the basis of complaints received at Nagpur Cyber Police Station on Tuesday, cases were registered against unknown accused in both matters. Police are trying to trace the accused through the mobile numbers and bank accounts used in the fraud.

The first case involves Sanjay Londekar (57), a resident of Vrindavan City on Wardha Road, who is an officer retired from a government department. According to the information available, he received a video call on WhatsApp on his mobile phone between October 1 and 10, 2026.

The callers described themselves as senior police officers. One identified himself as IPS officer Ranveer Singh, while the other said he was an officer at Mumbai Police headquarters named Keshav Jadhav. The two allegedly appeared in police uniform so that Londekar would not doubt their identity and claims.

The accused told Londekar that his identity card had been found at the site of a terror incident in Kashmir. They also claimed that a suspicious transaction of Rs 7 crore had been made from his bank account. He was frightened on hearing of something as serious as terrorism. The accused allegedly spoke of linking him to anti-national activities and made him fear legal action.

In "digital arrest", cyber fraudsters pose as officers of the police, CBI, ED or another investigating agency, keep the victim in constant contact on a video call, and threaten arrest, interrogation and imprisonment. The victim is often also told not to speak to family or acquaintances, so that no one can be consulted. In Londekar's case too, the accused allegedly created a similar atmosphere of fear. According to the complaint, Rs 10 lakh was transferred online from him in the name of settling the case. A complaint was then made to the cyber police, who registered a case and have begun an investigation to identify the people behind the fraud.

The second incident involves Kamini Gulabrao Shegaonkar (74), who lives in Parvati Nagar. Cyber fraudsters allegedly targeted the elderly woman by posing as officers of the Colaba Crime Branch. According to the information available, she received a call on WhatsApp between August 26 and October 12, 2026. The caller said he was a police officer and gave his name as Sandeeprao.

The accused told Shegaonkar that an unaccounted transaction had taken place from an account opened in her name at Canara Bank. It was also allegedly alleged that the account had been used to channel funds to terrorists. She was frightened on hearing an accusation such as terror funding. The accused tried to convince her that the matter was very serious and that strict legal action could be taken against her.

According to the complaint, in the name of an inquiry the accused obtained details of her property, family and other personal information. She was then allegedly made to fear legal action and was also allegedly given a stern warning not to speak to anyone else about the matter. She feared that if the allegations proved true she would have to face police action. Taking advantage of this, the accused allegedly promised to resolve the case and secure relief from the inquiry. According to the complaint, Rs 22.80 lakh was transferred from her in the name of settling the case. The matter came to light after she lost the large sum, and the cyber police were informed. In this case too, police have registered a case against unknown accused and begun an investigation.

The method in both cases appears largely similar. The accused first made contact claiming to be police officers, then instilled fear by mentioning terrorism, suspicious bank transactions and money laundering. Police are looking into who the victims were, which bank accounts the money went into, and what connection the users of those accounts have with the cyber crime. They are also examining whether one gang is behind both incidents or different cyber criminals carried them out. The real identity of the accused and the full web of the fraud will become clear only after the police investigation.

It is necessary not to panic on hearing the name of a police officer, an investigating agency or a government department, and to verify any claim independently. A demand for money in the name of the police is suspicious. In case of fraud, a complaint should be made immediately. In cases of cyber financial fraud, the national cyber crime helpline 1930 can be contacted.