The Cyber Unit of Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested two men—Amit from Ghaziabad and Hari from Assam—for allegedly defrauding a 92-year-old retired surgeon of Rs2.2 crore through a “digital arrest” cyber scam. Authorities have recovered the full amount.
According to police officials, the fraud occurred after the elderly man received repeated calls from individuals impersonating Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officials. The fraudsters claimed that multiple FIRs were filed against him and used fear tactics to pressure him into compliance.
In a more intense phase of the scam, the victim was connected via video call to a man posing as an Assistant Commissioner of Maharashtra Police, who showed a fake arrest warrant and demanded money to avoid immediate imprisonment. The victim, terrified and isolated, was instructed not to leave his phone and eventually transferred Rs2.2 crore to the account provided by the fraudsters.
After realizing he had been tricked, the victim filed a complaint on March 15. The case was taken over by the Cyber Cell under ACP Vivekanand Jha. Initial investigations pointed to an international cybercrime syndicate, with Amit and Hari acting as money mules who funneled the stolen funds to the ring’s kingpin.
Following their arrest, the police successfully recovered and returned the Rs2.2 crore to the victim. They also seized three mobile phones, which are now under forensic examination and have reportedly yielded vital leads on the broader network behind the scam.
A manhunt is underway for the kingpin, and further investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s operations.
