Fraudsters pose as cops, force women to strip in ‘Digital Arrest’

In a disturbing case of cybercrime, two women in Bengaluru were subjected to a nine-hour-long ordeal by fraudsters posing as police officers, who forced them to strip naked during a so-called “digital arrest.” The incident came to light after a 46-year-old woman filed a complaint at the East CEN police station on Saturday. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The incident occurred on July 17, when the complainant and her childhood friend — a Thailand-based instructor visiting Bengaluru — received a video call from someone claiming to be an officer from Mumbai’s Colaba police station. The fraudster accused the instructor of money laundering linked to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, human trafficking, and murder. To lend credibility, the caller revealed specific debit card details and shared fake arrest warrants and forged CBI ID cards.

The victims were told they were under a “digital arrest” and had to remain on a continuous WhatsApp video call for 24 hours. Claiming it was part of an RBI protocol, the scammer instructed them to transfer ₹58,447 for “verification” — promising a refund if the funds were clean. The fraudsters also impersonated officials from TRAI and Delhi Police.

Later, they demanded a “medical clearance” via video, instructing the women to strip to identify any birthmarks or tattoos. The women, believing it was a legitimate process, complied, unaware they were being recorded. The criminals later sent the nude images to the victims and threatened to release them publicly. One of the women eventually contacted a friend, who advised her to disconnect and stop sending money. The women deleted the images before filing the police complaint. The investigation is ongoing.