Mumbai businessman duped in massive cyber fraud as scammers pose as CBI, ED officials
The Maharashtra Cyber Department investigating the sensational ₹58 crore ‘digital arrest’ scam in Mumbai has uncovered an international cybercrime network with links to Hong Kong, China, and Indonesia, an official said on Tuesday.
The scam — among the largest of its kind in India — targeted a Mumbai-based businessman who was defrauded of ₹58 crore between August 19 and October 8 this year by cybercriminals impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers.
Funds routed abroad via cryptocurrency wallets
According to investigators, the stolen money was laundered through cryptocurrency transactions and transferred abroad via multiple digital wallets, making the funds difficult to trace. The gang reportedly operated through commission-based bank accounts, each used for a short period before being shut down.
Officials revealed that the syndicate was part of a larger transnational network that has been targeting Indian citizens for over a year, using intimidation and sophisticated video-call traps to extort money.
Scam exposed after businessman’s complaint
The case came to light when a Mumbai businessman filed a complaint alleging that he had received a threatening phone call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer.
The fraudster coerced him into joining a video call, where he was falsely accused of involvement in a criminal case. Over several hours, the scammers manipulated him into transferring ₹58 crore from his accounts, claiming it was part of an “official investigation.”
Part of a wider ₹2,000 crore scam network
Maharashtra Cyber officials estimate that similar ‘digital arrest’ rackets may have collectively generated over ₹2,000 crore by exploiting victims across India. These scams rely on fear and psychological coercion, often involving victims being held “virtually hostage” on video calls until they pay the demanded sums.
“‘Digital arrest’ is a new and growing form of cybercrime where impostors pose as government or law enforcement officials, intimidate citizens, and extort large sums,” an official explained.
Cyber police intensify probe
The Maharashtra Cyber Department, the state’s nodal agency for cybersecurity and digital investigations, has intensified its efforts to track the international money trail and identify the masterminds operating from abroad. Coordination with central agencies and interpol channels has been initiated to trace the global network.
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