Mumbai woman forced to strip, cheated of Rs 1.78 lakh after digital arrest

A 26-year-old woman in Mumbai was coerced into stripping during a video call and cheated of Rs 1.78 lakh after falling prey to a digital arrest scam by fraudsters posing as police officials.
According to the FIR, the incident occurred between November 19 and 20. The woman, an employee at a pharmaceutical company, received a call from individuals claiming to be Delhi Police officers. They falsely accused her of involvement in a money laundering case linked to businessman Naresh Goyal.
The fraudsters, using multiple phone numbers, threatened her with arrest and forced her to book a hotel room for a virtual interrogation.
During the video call, the culprits tricked the woman into transferring Rs 1.78 lakh for bank account verification. They then proceeded to demand a “body verification,” forcing her to undress.
The victim reported the incident on November 28. A case of extortion and harassment was registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the IT Act. The case, initially registered at the Dahisar police station, was transferred to Andheri Police, who are working to trace the suspects.
Authorities have warned the public to remain cautious and avoid falling for such scams. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning against digital arrest scams. He clarified that no government agency contacts individuals via phone or video calls for investigations.