FALSE BADGE, FABRICATED ARREST AND A LIFETIME’S SAVINGS LOST: BEHRAMPORE COUPLE CHEATED OF ₹46 LAKH

November 4, 2026

BEHRAMPORE: An elderly couple in Behrampore, Murshidabad, allegedly lost ₹46 lakh after falling victim to a digital arrest fraud in which a caller impersonated a senior National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer and threatened them with immediate arrest over fabricated allegations of links to terrorist financing.

Mukul Dutta, 70, said he received the threatening phone call on September 22 from a person claiming to be an NIA Additional Director General. The caller allegedly told him that his Aadhaar card had been used to transfer money to terrorists abroad and that a complaint had been lodged against him with the Mumbai Anti-Crime Branch. The caller further claimed that an investigation was being conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

The fraudster allegedly demanded ₹46 lakh, promising that the money would be returned if the couple were subsequently found innocent. Mukul was also instructed to maintain complete secrecy and was warned that he and his wife were under “digital arrest”, with plainclothes personnel supposedly monitoring them. The caller threatened immediate arrest if they refused to comply.

Terrified by the threats, Mukul and his wife, Chanchala Dutta, reportedly broke their fixed deposits, pooled their savings and sold gold to arrange the demanded amount. They subsequently transferred the entire ₹46 lakh to a bank account provided by the caller.

The couple realised they had been cheated only after informing their son, Mridul. On Monday, he lodged a written complaint with Behrampore police.

Inspector-in-charge Sandip Sen confirmed that a case had been registered on the basis of the complaint and that an investigation had begun. The Cyber Crime Branch has also initiated a separate case in connection with the incident.

The incident highlights the continuing threat posed by digital arrest scams, in which fraudsters impersonate law-enforcement officials and exploit fear of criminal prosecution to extract money from unsuspecting victims.

India has reportedly lost more than ₹52,000 crore to cyber fraud over the past five years. The Supreme Court has previously described the large-scale siphoning of money through online fraud, including digital arrest scams, as “absolute robbery or dacoity”. On October 29, the court also expressed concern over the growing number of such incidents and observed that banks could be held liable to compensate victims where financial losses are linked to failures in due diligence