Mumbai police registered a case after a 71-year-old retiree was defrauded of ₹2.04 crore over about one month by fraudsters impersonating officials via video calls and fake documents. Authorities say funds were funneled into cryptocurrency and that the incident fits a pattern of 'digital arrest' and romance-to-investment scams.

Mumbai cybercrime investigators logged a significant case following allegations that a 71-year-old retired resident was defrauded of approximately ₹2.04 crore in a 'digital arrest' style scam. According to police reports, perpetrators impersonated law enforcement and financial agents through video calls and produced forged documentation to intimidate and coerce the victim. The suspects convinced the retiree to transfer large sums and then routed the funds into cryptocurrency channels to obscure trails. Investigators noted that the modus operandi combined elements of romance or relationship grooming, authoritative impersonation and fake payout or legal screens to extract money, making it harder for victims to verify legitimacy. Mumbai authorities said the case is part of a wider trend in which fraudsters use sophisticated social engineering, real-time video interactions and rapid conversion to crypto to evade detection. Cyber units are analysing transaction flows, contacting exchanges, and coordinating with banks to trace funds and identify accomplices while issuing public advisories for vulnerable demographics.