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Retired colonel loses ₹61.8 lakh in digital arrest scam

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activeCyber Crime / Digital ArrestPan India

Retired colonel loses ₹61.8 lakh in digital arrest scam

A 67-year-old retired colonel residing in Kowkoor fell victim to an elaborate digital arrest scam after receiving a fraudulent phone call. The callers impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the Mumbai crime branch, and the Central Bureau of Investigation. They falsely accused him of being involved in illegal activities and a money-laundering case.

State

Multiple States

First reported

October 2026

Amount alleged

₹61.8 lakh

Agency involved

Malkajgiri Cybercrime Police

Charges or sections cited

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Information Technology Act

Status

Case registered, investigation underway

The full story

Everything you need to know about this case, in one place.

Over several weeks, the fraudsters subjected the retired officer to a simulated investigation over WhatsApp video calls. To intimidate him, they sent forged legal documents including an FIR, an Interpol notice, an arrest warrant, an Enforcement Directorate freezing order, and fake Supreme Court directives. Believing he was cooperating with law enforcement, the victim transferred a total of ₹61.8 lakh across multiple bank accounts under the pretext of fund verification.

The scam came to light after the fraudsters severed all communication with the victim. Following this, the retired officer confided in his son and subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the Malkajgiri cybercrime police. Authorities registered a case against the unidentified perpetrators under relevant legal provisions, initiating an investigation into the cyber fraud.

Not yet reported: The articles do not mention any tracking or recovery of the transferred funds or the identification of the suspects.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

Police have registered a case following the victim's complaint and are investigating the matter, though no arrests have been reported yet.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

A 67-year-old retired colonel residing in Kowkoor, Hyderabad.

Timeline

Key dates as reported, oldest first.

Sept 8The retired colonel received the initial fraudulent phone call claiming his Aadhaar was misused.

Between Sept 16 and Oct 9The victim transferred a total of ₹61.8 lakh to multiple bank accounts as instructed by the fraudsters.

Oct 9The accused stopped all communication with the victim.

Oct 19The retired officer disclosed the fraud to his son.

Oct 21The victim lodged a formal police complaint, leading to the registration of a case.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

The fraudsters initiated contact through a phone call claiming the victim's Aadhaar details were misused for illegal mobile connections.
The call was transferred to individuals posing as senior law enforcement officers from the Mumbai crime branch and CBI.
The victim was subjected to a recorded interrogation via WhatsApp video call.
The gang manufactured and sent forged documents such as fake FIRs, Interpol notices, and arrest warrants to create panic.
The scammers demanded and obtained financial details, persuading the victim to transfer ₹61.8 lakh for supposed fund verification with the false promise of a refund.

Targeted by something similar?

Call 1930 (free, 24x7) straight away, then file at cybercrime.gov.in. Money reported in the first hours is far easier to freeze.

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Sources and further reading

Optional. The full story is above; these are the original reports it was prepared from.

timesofindia.indiatimes.comOriginal report The Times of IndiaOpens via Google News Hyderabad Retired Army Colonel Cheated of Rs 61.8 Lakh in Digital Arrest Scam - News MobileNews Mobile · 23 Oct 2026

Prepared by Report Scams, with the help of AI, from the published reports listed above. Check those reports for the latest. Cases here describe allegations. An FIR, arrest or charge is not a finding of guilt. To report a mistake, or to ask for a correction or removal, write to our Grievance Officer. See also the Safe Posting policy.