A horrifying scam unfolded in Tumakuru, Karnataka, where a government employee was deceived of ₹19 lakh in a “digital arrest” fraud. The victim, B.S. Nagabhushan, received a call on December 20 from individuals claiming to be Mumbai Cyber police.

Where the fraudsters accused Nagabhushan that his bank account was involved in illegal transactions and that a SIM card registered in his name was being used for threatening activities.. Threatening dire consequences like asset seizure and arrest, they coerced him into cooperating. To make their claims believable, the scammers even conducted a video call dressed as police officers.

Under pressure and convinced of the urgency, Nagabhushan disclosed his bank details, including information about a fixed deposit in his wife’s name. The fraudsters then instructed him to transfer ₹19 lakh via RTGS to an account they claimed was part of the “investigation.” They promised the money would be returned after verifying his innocence, but instead, the funds disappeared.

This scam is part of a growing trend of “digital arrest” frauds targeting residents in Karnataka. In another case, a Bengaluru software engineer lost ₹11.8 crore after being misled by callers impersonating officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and Mumbai Police. Similarly, an 83-year-old woman from Bengaluru was scammed out of ₹1.24 crore through a series of fraudulent calls.

Authorities are urging the public to remain cautious. Genuine law enforcement agencies do not demand money transfers over the phone or video calls. Residents are advised to verify any such claims independently and report suspicious activities to local police or cybercrime authorities immediately.