Sangvi, 10th November 2025: In yet another alarming case of cybercrime, a 71-year-old retired man from Pimpri was duped of ₹22.5 lakh after cyber fraudsters tricked him through a WhatsApp video call by posing as law enforcement officials and threatening to “digitally arrest” him in a fake money laundering case.
According to police, the crime took place online between July 23 and September 29 through social media and WhatsApp. The victim lodged a complaint at the Sangvi police station, following which a case was registered against the unidentified fraudsters and the bank account holder who received the money.
Police said the accused contacted the complainant via WhatsApp video call and falsely claimed that a mobile number registered in his name had been used in a child pornography case. Posing as officials from the Cyber Crime Department, they told him that a case of money laundering had been filed against him and that an ATM card had been seized from his residence.
The fraudsters further alleged that the complainant had earned a commission of ₹25 lakh by allowing his bank account to be used for laundering illicit funds. Claiming that the court had ordered his “digital arrest,” they instructed him to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) through an online video call.
To make the deception convincing, the accused even shared fake documents that appeared to be official notices from the court and the CBI. Under pressure and fear, the senior citizen transferred ₹15.5 lakh and ₹7 lakh, totaling ₹22.5 lakh, to the bank accounts provided by the fraudsters for “verification” purposes.
After receiving the money, the cybercriminals stopped contacting him, leading the complainant to realize he had been conned. He then approached the Sangvi police, who have launched an investigation into the case.
The post Pune: Retired Man Duped of Rs 22.5 Lakh in ‘Digital Arrest’ Cyber Fraud in Pimpri Chinchwad appeared first on Punekar News.
