Mumbai Woman Made To Strip On Video Call, Duped Of Rs 1.7 Lakh In Shocking 'Digital Arrest' Case

In a disturbing case of fraud, a 26-year-old woman from Mumbai was coerced into stripping during a video call and scammed out of ₹1.7 lakh by fraudsters posing as police officers, according to local authorities.

The woman, a Borivali East resident employed by a pharmaceutical company, filed a complaint stating that the scammers contacted her on 19th November, introducing themselves as officers from the Delhi Police.

They alleged that her name had surfaced in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to Naresh Goyal, the founder-chairman of Jet Airways, who is currently imprisoned.

The fraudsters threatened her with arrest, escalating the interaction to a video call where they claimed she was under a 'digital arrest.' They instructed her to book a hotel room for the continuation of the so-called interrogation.

After the woman checked into a hotel, the scammers demanded ₹1.78 lakh, purportedly to verify her bank account details. Under the pretext of a 'body verification,' they also coerced her into undressing during the video call. Complying with their instructions, she transferred the money and followed their demands.

Upon realising she had been deceived, she approached the police and lodged a complaint on November 28. A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhit and the Information Technology Act, with an investigation now underway.

This is not the first instance of scammers exploiting Naresh Goyal's name for fraudulent activities. Earlier, a similar scheme targeted Shri Paul Oswal, chairman and managing director of the Vardhman Group, defrauding him of ₹7 crore. In that case, the victim, an elderly man, was also told he was under a 'digital arrest.'

What is 'Digital Arrest'?

'Digital arrest' is an emerging scam in which fraudsters claim their target is under 'digital' or 'virtual' arrest, compelling them to stay connected via video or audio call. Victims are instructed to keep the supposed 'arrest' a secret and remain under surveillance until money is transferred to the scammers' accounts.

Police have repeatedly emphasised in advisories that there is no such thing as a 'digital arrest' or 'virtual arrest.' However, the growing number of these incidents indicates that the message has not reached many. While senior citizens, less familiar with modern technology, are often targeted, fraudsters have recently begun preying on younger adults as well.