18 May,2026 10:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer
Police said the fraudsters continuously appeared on official-style video calls while impersonating officials. Representational Pic/File
A 58-year-old woman from Andheri East in Mumbai was allegedly cheated of Rs 8.75 lakh in a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam after fraudsters falsely claimed she was linked to a money laundering investigation involving Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, police said.
The victim, a senior manager at an engineering company in Vikhroli, lives with her 83-year-old mother. Her son works in the United States.
According to police, the scammers kept her under constant virtual surveillance for nearly five days and used fake identities, forged legal documents and psychological pressure to convince her that she was "suspect number 188" in a major investigation involving 247 accused persons.
Police said the fraud began on May 8 at around 11.15 am when the woman received a call from a man identifying himself as "Akash Agrawal" from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The caller claimed that an FIR had been registered against her and threatened that her mobile number would be disconnected unless she reached Colaba Police Station within two hours.
When she informed him that she was at work in Vikhroli and unable to travel immediately, the caller allegedly suggested a "video call inquiry" instead.
Shortly afterwards, the woman received a WhatsApp video call from another number. A woman on the call allegedly asked her to show her Aadhaar card for verification.
The call was then transferred to another man, who introduced himself as "Vijay Khanna" from Colaba Police Station.
Police said the fraudsters continuously appeared on official-style video calls while impersonating telecom officials, police officers, investigators and judicial authorities to make the operation appear genuine.
The fake officer allegedly informed the woman that the CBI was probing financial transactions connected to Naresh Goyal and claimed that her Aadhaar details had been used to open a suspicious bank account.
The victim was allegedly told that 247 suspects had already been identified and that she was "suspect number 188".
Although the woman denied owning the account and clarified that the account details did not match her own bank account, the fraudsters allegedly insisted she could avoid arrest if she cooperated fully.
Police said the scammers intensified pressure by instructing the woman not to speak to family members, answer phone calls or reveal details of the "investigation" to anyone.
She was allegedly told that the matter involved national security and was highly confidential.
The accused kept the video calls active continuously between May 8 and May 13, effectively placing her under a "digital arrest".
To strengthen the deception, the fraudsters allegedly sent fake arrest warrants, forged Supreme Court orders and fabricated investigation documents through WhatsApp.
On May 10, another caller identifying himself as "Akash Khulhari" allegedly informed the woman that a Supreme Court hearing would take place the next day.
During another video call on May 11, the woman was introduced to a man identifying himself as "Suryakant", who claimed to be a judge.
The fake judge allegedly told her that investigators possessed recordings of her conversations with Naresh Goyal and that they would be sent for forensic examination.
Later, the woman allegedly received what appeared to be a Supreme Court order asking her to transfer funds for "verification".
The fake officer instructed her to retain only Rs 50,000 and transfer the remaining money into a so-called "secret supervision account".
Transactions made by the victim:
- Rs 6,58,133 transferred on May 11
- Rs 2,17,139 transferred on May 12
- Total amount cheated: Rs 8,75,272
Police said the woman became suspicious on May 13 when the accused allegedly demanded that she also transfer money from her PF account.
She then disconnected the call, ignored further communication and contacted the national cybercrime helpline 1930 before approaching police.
An FIR was registered on May 15, and the Parksite Police in Vikhroli have launched an investigation into the case.
