Pune Cyber Police have cracked a meticulously planned “digital arrest” scam that defrauded an 82-year-old pensioner of Rs 10.74 crore, employing psychological intimidation, sophisticated digital tactics, and cross-border money transfers. Two suspects have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, while investigations revealed connections to a popular social media influencer and cryptocurrency exchanges in China.
Between January 23 and January 31, fraudsters posing as TRAI, CBI, and judicial officials falsely claimed the pensioner’s bank account was linked to a money laundering case. To heighten fear, the scammers staged a fake virtual courtroom with a mock judge and lawyer, coercing the victim to transfer his life savings—including fixed deposits and funds sent by his children abroad—to multiple accounts controlled by the accused.
On February 22, Pune Cyber Police arrested two main suspects: Harshad Subhash Dhantole (23), a BTech student from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar residing in Karvenagar, and Samarth Suresh Deshmukh (24), an unemployed graduate from the same city currently living in Pune. According to Senior Police Inspector Swapnali Shinde, ATM surveillance and bank transaction analysis helped trace portions of the siphoned funds. Rs 40 lakh has been frozen, and Rs 4.78 lakh cash recovered from their possession.
Investigations revealed that part of the stolen money was converted into cryptocurrency and transferred to exchanges in China. Authorities also found that a popular social media influencer helped create and manage mule bank accounts to obfuscate the trail. Some stolen funds were credited to his account, and his girlfriend was questioned after transfers were traced to her account.
Cyber Police are now tracing all links to dismantle the broader network, which may involve cross-border operators coordinating from China. One of the absconding suspects is believed to still be in contact with these handlers, highlighting the international scope of the scam.
