Pune Senior Citizen Duped Of ₹1.44 Crore In Fake NIA-ATS ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam
Pune Senior Citizen Duped Of ₹1.44 Crore In Fake NIA-ATS ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam
Pune, October 20, 2025: A 70-year-old Pune resident fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud in which scammers impersonating officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) duped him of ₹1.44 crore under the guise of a “digital arrest.”
According to the FIR filed at the Pune Cyber Police Station, the incident began on September 23 when the victim received a call from an individual claiming to be an inspector from Mumbai. The caller informed him that the Lucknow unit of the ATS had detained a terrorist who allegedly used bank accounts registered in the victim’s name for terror funding.
Soon after, another fraudster, dressed in a police uniform, appeared on a video call and introduced himself as the NIA chief. The victim was ordered to remain on the video call continuously as the “investigation” proceeded. Terrified by the accusations, he followed their instructions and transferred ₹1.44 crore to multiple accounts provided by the scammers.
The fraud came to light when, on October 8, the conmen demanded an additional ₹3 lakh. Sensing something suspicious, the senior citizen approached the cyber police and lodged a complaint.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. The police have launched an investigation to trace the culprits behind the scam.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and to immediately verify the authenticity of any such calls from individuals claiming to be from law enforcement agencies.
