‘Digital arrest’ scam: Retired tax officer loses Rs 51 lakh to fake Lucknow cops

A retired income tax officer in Mumbai lost Rs 51 lakh after cyber fraudsters allegedly posed as police officers from Lucknow and accused him of being involved in a money laundering case.

The scammers contacted the retired official through a video call and claimed that a bank account had been opened using his details. They alleged that large transactions linked to money laundering had taken place through the account.

The victim was then told that a criminal case had been registered against him and that he could face at least 10 years in prison.

Fake case used to force money transfers

According to the FIR, the fraudsters allegedly sent fake government documents and sought details of the victim’s bank accounts. They then instructed him to transfer his savings as part of the purported investigation.

"The fraudsters allegedly sent him fake government documents and sought details of his bank accounts. They told him that, until the inquiry was completed, he needed to transfer his bank deposits and other savings to a bank account," police said.

Believing the claims, the retired officer transferred around Rs 51 lakh in several instalments to an account provided by the fraudsters.

However, the promised questioning did not take place and the victim eventually realised that he had been cheated.

Police arrest mule account operator

The victim later approached the Cyber Cell of the North Regional Division and filed a complaint against the unidentified cyber fraudsters.

Police traced the transactions using technical evidence and identified Mohammed Safwan Abdul Hameed as a suspect. He was subsequently detained and arrested.

According to police, Hameed had provided bank accounts to cyber fraudsters to facilitate the movement of money. He allegedly transferred the funds to the main fraudsters and received a fixed commission for helping with the transactions.

His interrogation has also led investigators to the names of several other suspects, police said. Teams are currently searching for them.

Hameed has been remanded in police custody by a court, while the investigation into the wider network remains underway.

‘Digital arrest’ scams target victims through fear

The case highlights how fraudsters use threats of arrest, fake official documents and fabricated criminal investigations to pressure victims into transferring their savings.

According to media reports, Indians lost Rs 4,057.7 crore in around 2,97,727 complaints related to cyber fraud between 2022 and May 2026.