Cyber Fraud Busted In Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad Police Apprehends Two For Duping Resident Of ₹52.59 Lakh In Fake ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam
Cyber Fraud Busted In Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad Police Apprehends Two For Duping Resident Of ₹52.59 Lakh In Fake 'Digital Arrest' Scam
Pimpri Chinchwad Cyber Police have arrested two individuals involved in a high-profile cyber fraud case where a city resident was duped of ₹52.59 lakh under the pretense of a “digital arrest”. The scammers impersonated law enforcement officials and used fear tactics to extort money in the name of a money laundering investigation.
According to the complaint filed on June 7, the victim received a call from an unknown number where the caller identified himself as Santaji Ghorpade from the Mumbai Crime Branch and George Mathew, a head in the finance department. The fraudsters escalated the fear by making a WhatsApp video call, displaying false credentials, and showing fabricated evidence that the victim’s SBI and HDFC bank accounts were under investigation for money laundering.
They told the victim that an M-Team was en route to arrest them and instructed that the money in their accounts be transferred to specified bank accounts for “verification” by RBI Finance. Out of fear, the victim transferred ₹52,59,000 to multiple bank accounts.
An FIR was lodged under IPC sections 204, 205, 308, 316(2), 318(4), 3(5) and IT Act sections 66C and 66D. Upon investigation, ₹5.39 lakh was found to have been transferred to an Axis Bank account. Tracing the account led police to Aahilayanagar in Bolhegaon, where one accused, Akash Babasaheb Pathare (28), was located and apprehended.
Pathare revealed he had committed the crime along with three others — Avinash Tungar, Shubham alias Vicky Dethe, and Krishna alias Jeetu Bhagat, all residents of the same area. After Pathare’s arrest, Avinash Tungar tried to flee, but police teams laid a trap and captured him as well.
Police Inspector Ravikiran Nale is leading the investigation. The operation was carried out under the supervision of Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, Joint Commissioner Dr. Shashikant Mahavarkar, Additional Commissioner Sarang Awad, and DCP (Crime) Sandeep Doiphode, with support from ACP Dr. Vishal Hire and a team of cyber police officers.
What Is a “Digital Arrest”?
In this growing cybercrime trend, scammers pose as high-ranking officials—police, judges, CBI, finance heads—and threaten victims with fake money laundering charges. They use video calls with fake IDs to convince victims of their legitimacy and then pressure them to transfer all their money to accounts for supposed verification.
Public Advisory:
If anyone contacts you claiming to be from a government authority and accuses you of money laundering, asking you to transfer funds, do not comply. Instead, immediately report the incident to your nearest cyber police station, log a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in, or call the toll-free helpline 1930.
