Woman Scammed in Shocking ‘Digital Arrest’ Fraud in Mumbai

A 26-year-old woman from Borivali East, Mumbai, was tricked into undressing during a video call and scammed out of ₹1.7 lakh by fraudsters posing as police.

The woman, who works at a pharmaceutical company, reported that the scammers called her on November 19, pretending to be Delhi Police officers. They falsely claimed her name was linked to a money laundering case involving Naresh Goyal, the founder of Jet Airways. Goyal is currently in jail.

The scammers threatened her with arrest and switched to a video call, claiming she was under “digital arrest.” They told her to book a hotel room for questioning. Once she checked in, they demanded ₹1.78 lakh to “verify” her bank details. Shockingly, they also coerced her into undressing on the video call, claiming it was needed for body verification.

The woman transferred the money but later realized she had been scammed. She filed a police complaint on November 28. The police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhit and the IT Act and are investigating.

This is not the first scam linked to Naresh Goyal’s name. Earlier, a textile company chairman was conned out of ₹7 crore using a similar “digital arrest” ploy.

What is a “Digital Arrest”?

A “digital arrest” is a scam where fraudsters claim someone is under “digital” or “virtual” arrest. They force victims to stay on a call, warning them not to inform anyone. The scammers pretend to monitor the victim until they transfer money.

Police have confirmed that “digital arrests” are fake. Initially, scammers targeted older people, but they are now tricking younger victims as well. Despite warnings, many remain unaware of this growing scam.