A disturbing case of cyber fraud has come to light in Ghaziabad, where a 75-year-old woman was tricked into transferring ₹52.78 lakh to fraudsters who falsely claimed she was under a “digital arrest.” The elaborate week-long scam exposes the growing sophistication of online crimes that specifically target senior citizens.
According to the complaint lodged with the Cyber Crime Police Station, the victim, identified as Uday Thakur from Chiranjiv Vihar, received a call on 25 October 2025 from a man posing as a Telecom Department official. The caller alleged that a SIM card issued in woman name was linked to a money laundering case.
Shortly after, the woman received a video call from individuals pretending to be officers from the Crime Branch and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They displayed fake identification cards and official-looking backdrops to appear authentic. The scammers told woman that she had been “digitally arrested,” meaning she could not leave her home or contact anyone until the investigation was complete.
Under continuous pressure and fear of legal action, the woman was manipulated into transferring money from her savings over three separate transactions between 25 October and 1 November. The fraudsters threatened that failure to comply would result in her bank accounts being frozen and criminal charges filed against her. By the time woman realised the deception, a total of ₹52.78 lakh had been drained from her accounts.
After she filed a complaint, the Ghaziabad Cyber Crime Police registered a case and began a technical investigation to track down those responsible. Police confirmed that several bank accounts and digital payment channels involved in the scam are under examination.
“This is a new and highly manipulative form of cyber fraud where criminals impersonate law enforcement officers to trap victims,” said the Senior Superintendent of Police (City). “A specialised cyber team is analysing the digital trail to identify and arrest the culprits.”
The Ghaziabad case highlights the darker side of India’s digital transformation. While online financial systems continue to empower millions, they also expose users to new forms of cyber exploitation. Awareness and timely reporting remain the strongest defences against such crimes.
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