Three Arrested in Bhopal for Cheating Delhi Woman of ₹71 Lakh in Digital Arrest Fraud

Police in Delhi have arrested three people from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh for cheating a woman of ₹71 lakh in a digital arrest scam.

The Arrests

The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit of the Delhi Police arrested Priyanka Prajapati, Aman Soni, and Pinky Soni in Bhopal. Investigators found a network of mule bank accounts that were used to receive and divert the stolen money.

How the Fraud Happened

The victim got a WhatsApp video call from someone pretending to be an IPS officer in Mumbai. The caller claimed a credit card was issued in her name and used in a money laundering case worth about ₹6.5 crore. The fraudster threatened to arrest her and send her to jail unless she transferred money for verification to avoid legal trouble. Frightened by these threats, the woman transferred ₹71 lakh in two separate transactions. She filed an e-FIR at the Special Cell police station on October 8.

Investigation and Recovery

Police tracked the money trail and found multiple bank accounts used to move and hide the funds. The three arrested individuals helped handle and withdraw the money. Out of the total amount, about ₹15 lakh was withdrawn and shared among the accused and their associates. Part of the money was used to buy expensive new items. Officers recovered three new mobile phones that were bought using the fraud money. Further investigation is ongoing to find other members of the network and trace the rest of the funds.

Context

Digital arrest scams are a growing type of cyber crime where fraudsters pose as law enforcement officers on video calls to scare victims into transferring money. These scams often rely on networks of mule accounts to quickly move stolen funds through different banks before they can be frozen.