Nigdi, 21st April 2026: An 81-year-old man’s vigilance, spurred by recent police awareness campaigns, saved his son and daughter-in-law from falling victim to a massive cyber fraud after the couple was held under a fake “digital arrest” for over 27 hours.
The prompt intervention by the Pimpri Chinchwad Cyber Police prevented the couple from transferring Rs 12 lakh to the fraudsters, officials said on Tuesday.
The terrifying ordeal for the young couple, residents of the Nigdi police station limits, began at around 11:00 AM on Sunday, April 19. The victim received a WhatsApp call from an unknown person claiming to be an officer from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.
The caller alleged that a parcel booked in the victim’s name had been intercepted, and authorities had found five passports and a stash of MD (Mephedrone) drugs inside it. The fraudsters then told the victim that he would have to face a high-level inquiry by “senior officers.”
The ‘Digital Arrest’ Trap
To execute the extortion, the cybercriminals forced the victim and his wife to download the ‘Signal’ messaging app and join a video call. A man dressed in a fake police uniform appeared on the screen, posing as an investigating officer.
The couple was severely threatened and explicitly instructed not to drop the call or tell anyone about the “investigation” until they received a “police clearance certificate.” Trapped in their own home, the couple was effectively placed under “digital arrest” by the scammers.
The psychological torture continued overnight. By 2:30 PM on Monday, April 20, the fake officers had extracted the couple’s Aadhaar and bank account details. The scammers then instructed the victim to liquidate Rs 12,00,000 from his mutual funds, deposit the money into his bank account, and transfer it to a designated account to “clear his name.”
A Father’s Timely Intervention
During the ordeal, the fraudsters had ordered the victim to keep his mobile phone away from others. However, the victim’s 81-year-old father noticed his son’s prolonged isolation and fearful behavior.
Recalling recent cyber awareness campaigns conducted for senior citizens in residential societies by the Pimpri Chinchwad Police, the elderly man immediately suspected foul play. He managed to contact Police Constable Sopan Bodhwad of the Pimpri Chinchwad Cyber Police Station and explained the situation.
Realizing the gravity of the ongoing crime, Constable Bodhwad immediately alerted his superiors. A rescue team comprising Bodhwad, Constable Mukund Ware, and Woman Police Constable Sneha Mhaske from the Nigdi Police Station rushed to the victim’s residence.
The police team intervened, interrupted the ongoing video call, and explained the “digital arrest” modus operandi to the panicked couple, successfully stopping the Rs 12 lakh financial transfer at the last moment.
The senior citizen later expressed his deep gratitude to Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, noting that the community awareness drives were instrumental in helping him recognize the scam.
Police Advisory: “No Such Thing as Digital Arrest”
Following the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dr. Shivaji Pawar issued a strong public advisory. “There is no concept of ‘digital arrest’ in the law, and no police officer conducts arrests or official inquiries over video calls,” DCP Pawar stated. “Citizens are urged not to respond to any video calls from individuals claiming to be investigating officers. Do not succumb to threats.”
The police have requested citizens to immediately contact their nearest police station, call the emergency number 112, or dial the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’s toll-free number 1930 if they encounter such fraudulent calls.
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