Elderly NRI Couple Lose ₹14.85 Crore in Sophisticated 'Digital Arrest' Fraud

An elderly doctor couple living in south Delhi were defrauded of ₹14.85 crore in a sophisticated two-week scam where fraudsters posing as government officials placed them under "digital arrest," keeping them under constant surveillance while coercing them to transfer their life savings to multiple accounts.

The case, which unfolded between December 24, 2025 and January 9, 2026, highlights the growing threat of impersonation scams targeting vulnerable individuals, with authorities reporting a significant increase in such digital arrest schemes across India in recent years.

Background and Context

Digital arrest scams have proliferated as fraudsters exploit technology and fear of legal consequences to manipulate victims. According to industry analysis by Kogta Financial India Limited, these sophisticated confidence schemes have grown significantly as criminals refine their methods of impersonating government officials and law enforcement authorities.

The method involves perpetrators convincing victims they are under investigation or immediate threat of arrest, then maintaining continuous contact through video calls and messaging to prevent victims from seeking verification or help. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has repeatedly warned citizens about such scams, where fraudsters misuse its name to lend credibility to their schemes.

Key Figures and Entities

The victims, Dr Om Taneja and his wife Dr Indira Taneja, both 71, are retired physicians who lived in the United States for over four decades before returning to India in 2015 to settle in Delhi's upscale Greater Kailash-II area. Their status as returning NRIs and unfamiliarity with recent procedural changes in Indian law enforcement may have contributed to their vulnerability.

According to the couple's complaint, the fraud began with a phone call from someone claiming to represent TRAI, who informed Dr Indira Taneja that her phone number had been linked to suspicious activities and that her bank accounts were under investigation for money laundering. The scammers claimed an FIR had been registered against her in Maharashtra.

To lend credibility to their claims, the fraudsters staged a video call with someone wearing what appeared to be an official uniform. The Delhi Police's Special Cell's cyber unit, known as the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit, is now investigating these claims after the case was transferred from the initial e-FIR registration.

Legal and Financial Mechanisms

The fraudsters employed a multi-layered approach to maintain control over their victims. Under the pretext of a digital arrest, they subjected the couple to constant video surveillance and regular phone calls, effectively isolating them from outside verification. According to Dr Indira Taneja's statements to ANI, the perpetrators kept them under such severe surveillance that they felt constrained from taking actions that might alert others.

Over 17 days, the couple was coerced into transferring ₹14.85 crore to eight different bank accounts. Financial investigations suggest these accounts were likely mule accounts designed to quickly move funds through the banking system before detection. The case bears similarities to other high-profile scams, including a $6 million elder fraud scheme involving Indian nationals in the United States and a ₹60 crore cheating case involving celebrities in Mumbai.

International Implications and Policy Response

This case underscores the cross-border nature of modern financial crime and the particular vulnerability of NRI populations who may be unfamiliar with local procedures. The targeting of a couple with decades of international residence illustrates how fraudsters exploit both technological sophistication and psychological manipulation to overcome traditional warning systems.

The Delhi Police's response, involving the transfer of the case to their specialized cyber unit, reflects growing institutional recognition of these threats. However, the case also reveals gaps in inter-agency coordination and public awareness, as legitimate government agencies continue to struggle with impersonation that erodes public trust.

Financial regulators and law enforcement agencies across India have been working to enhance public awareness about such scams, but this case demonstrates how rapidly these criminal enterprises adapt to new countermeasures. The substantial financial loss and psychological trauma inflicted on elderly victims has prompted calls for enhanced protective measures and more aggressive prosecution of those involved in orchestrating such schemes.

Sources

This report draws on the official complaint filed with Delhi Police, statements provided to ANI by the victims, and investigative reporting on digital arrest scams in India. Additional context was provided by industry analysis on financial fraud trends and official statements from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India regarding scam awareness initiatives.