Noida: Elderly couple defrauded of ₹58 lakh in digital arrest scam

An elderly couple residing in the Paras Tiara Society of Sector-137, Noida, has been defrauded of approximately ₹58.30 lakh through a sophisticated ‘digital arrest’ scam. The incident, which unfolded over an eight-day period starting around August 11, involved scammers using psychological manipulation to coerce the victims into transferring funds under the guise of a legal investigation.

The scam began with a landline call from an individual posing as an Airtel employee. The perpetrator claimed that the victim's Aadhaar card and a Canara Bank ATM card were linked to a major money laundering investigation involving 247 Aadhaar cards. To escalate the pressure, the scammers transitioned to WhatsApp video calls, impersonating law enforcement officials to create a sense of urgency and isolation.

By convincing the couple that they were part of a serious criminal case, the fraudsters maintained control over them, effectively placing them under a ‘digital arrest’ where they were discouraged from contacting anyone else. The victims were misled into believing that the money transferred to various bank accounts for ‘verification’ purposes would be returned once the investigation concluded.