Bank Officer Prevents Elderly Woman from Falling Victim to ‘Digital Arrest’ Fraud, Police honored Her
Priyanka Patil, the operation head at Axis Bank’s Rahatani branch, was recognized by Pimpri Chinchwad police for successfully stopping a dangerous “digital arrest” scam that targeted an elderly woman. This scam, orchestrated by online criminals posing as police officers, aimed to cheat the woman out of her savings.
How the Scam Unfolded
On October 28, 2024, an elderly woman received a WhatsApp call from a fraudster pretending to be a police officer. The scammer falsely claimed that a bank had filed a complaint against her at the Bombay High Court for non-payment of a ₹3 lakh credit card loan. The fraudster pressured her to travel to Bengaluru to resolve the case. However, the elderly woman explained that she was alone and unable to travel.
The scammer then insisted she make a video call to a specific mobile number. During the call, two men impersonating police officers told the woman that her case was complicated and had been handed over to a senior officer named Sandeep Rao. The woman was interviewed for hours, during which the fraudster gathered personal details such as her PAN card, Aadhaar card, bank information, and family details. He warned her not to share this information and threatened her with digital surveillance, claiming that her phone was being tapped.
The fraudster escalated the threats by accusing the woman of having multiple bank accounts and ties to a criminal named Manish Goyal. He then stated that her case had become serious and was transferred to the CBI.
To make the scam seem more believable, the fraudsters shared several fake bank account numbers. A woman, pretending to be a CBI officer named Deeparniti Munshikar, joined the video call and instructed the woman to transfer all her money and fixed deposits to these accounts for “safekeeping.”
The Role of Priyanka Patil
The woman, frightened by the constant threats of being digitally arrested, began withdrawing money from her fixed deposits at Axis Bank. However, Priyanka Patil, the operation head at Axis Bank’s Rahatani branch, noticed suspicious activity and immediately intervened. Patil tried to convince the woman not to break her fixed deposits, suspecting the situation to be a scam.
Despite Patil’s efforts, the woman continued to feel pressured. But Patil didn’t give up. She contacted senior bank officials and showed the woman videos explaining how digital arrest frauds are typically carried out. Finally, the woman understood the fraud and decided not to transfer her money to the criminals.
Legal Action and Recognition
The woman did not fall victim to the scam, thanks to Patil’s timely intervention. An official report was filed at the Sangvi police station, and further investigations are ongoing. Vinay Kumar Choube, Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad police, praised Priyanka Patil for her vigilance and quick action in preventing the fraud. The elderly woman, who narrowly escaped being scammed, was also present at the ceremony, along with other police officials and Axis Bank representatives.
The Larger Issue of Digital Arrest Scams
Digital arrest frauds are part of a growing trend of online scams, where international criminal syndicates use sophisticated tactics to deceive victims into transferring large sums of money. These fraudsters often funnel the stolen funds through mule accounts and cryptocurrencies to evade detection.
In response to the rise of such scams, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an advisory in May, warning the public about cyber criminals impersonating law enforcement officials, such as the CBI, RBI, and Enforcement Directorate. The issue was also highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in one of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programs, drawing attention to the widespread nature of these frauds.