In one of Bengaluru’s most elaborate cyber fraud cases, a 57-year-old senior software engineer from Indiranagar was allegedly defrauded of nearly ₹32 crore (₹31.83 crore precisely) in a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam that spanned over six months. Posing as officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and cybercrime units, the fraudsters kept the victim under constant video surveillance via Skype, coercing her into 187 bank transactions while threatening her with arrest and family harm. The ordeal, which began in September 2024, ended abruptly in March 2025, leaving her mentally and physically broken. She filed a police complaint in June 2025 after her son’s wedding, prompting authorities to register a case and launch a probe into the interstate racket.
How the Scam Unfolded: From a Fake Parcel to Virtual House Arrest
The nightmare started on September 23, 2024, when the woman received a call from someone claiming to be a DHL executive. They alleged a parcel in her name—containing three credit cards, four passports, and prohibited MDMA (a narcotic)—had arrived at DHL’s Andheri center in Mumbai. When she denied any involvement and explained she lived in Bengaluru, the caller escalated the panic, linking her phone number to the “cybercrime” and transferring the call to a supposed CBI officer.
The fake CBI officer claimed, “All evidence is against you,” and warned her not to contact local police, asserting that “dangerous criminals” were monitoring her home. Terrified for her family—especially with her son’s engagement and wedding approaching—she complied. The scammers instructed her to install two Skype IDs and keep her camera on for constant “surveillance,” enforcing a virtual house arrest. A man posing as Mohit Handa monitored her for two days, followed by Rahul Yadav for a week, and then Pradeep Singh, who impersonated a senior CBI officer, took over daily check-ins, pressuring her to “prove her innocence.”
On September 23, she was even “taken” to a hotel for a mock Skype “questioning” and forced to declare her assets for “RBI verification.” From September 24 to October 22, she shared her financial details. Between October 24 and November 3, she transferred ₹2 crore as a “surety amount,” followed by ₹2.4 crore labeled as “taxes.” The fraudsters provided fake documents, including a clearance letter on December 1, 2024, allowing her son’s engagement on December 6 to proceed.
She broke fixed deposits, liquidated savings, and made 187 transfers totaling ₹31.83 crore, repeatedly assured of refunds by February 25, 2025. Even during her month-long hospitalization from illness caused by stress, the surveillance continued—Singh demanded daily updates from her hospital bed. Demands shifted to “processing charges,” delaying refunds to March, before all contact ceased on March 26, 2025.
Victim’s Ordeal: “I Had to Report My Every Move”
In her complaint to the High Grounds police station, the woman recounted: “All this time, I had to report over Skype where I was and what I was doing. Pradeep Singh was in touch daily. I was told the money would be returned by February 25 after all procedures.” She waited until after the June wedding to come forward, stating: “In total, through 187 transactions, I stand deprived of approximately Rs 31.83 crore.”
Police Probe and Broader Implications
Bengaluru police’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) has registered a case under relevant IPC and IT Act sections, tracing the calls to multiple states. This is among Karnataka’s largest single-victim cyber frauds, highlighting the rise of “digital arrest” scams—over 1,000 cases reported in India this year alone, with losses exceeding ₹500 crore. Authorities urge verifying suspicious calls via official channels and reporting immediately to 1930 (cyber helpline). The victim has appealed for a thorough investigation to recover her funds.
