An elderly doctor couple in south delhi's greater kailash lost rs 14 crore to fraudsters in a digital arrest scam. The ruse began with a call from a fake trai official on december 24, 2025, and kept them on video calls for 17 days. The fraud came to light in january 2026, prompting a police investigation.
According to delhi police, a 77-year-old woman and her husband, both doctors living in greater kailash, received a call from an unidentified person on december 24, 2025. The caller posed as a trai official and accused her of using her mobile number for offensive calls, as well as holding black money and involvement in money laundering.
The couple had returned from the united states in 2016 and have been living in delhi since, with their children settled abroad. The fraudsters exploited their isolated life, threatening arrest and legal action to keep them on continuous phone and video calls. Under pressure, the complainant transferred a total of rs 14 crore to multiple bank accounts provided by the callers to 'clear' the accusations.
The calls stopped on january 9, 2026, after which the couple approached the national cyber crime helpline 1930. On january 10, they were sent to a police station under the pretext of an rbi refund, where officers confirmed they had been cheated of rs 14.85 crore. An e-fir was lodged on january 11, 2026, and the delhi police cybercrime unit began investigating.
One source reports the amount as rs 14 crore, while another specifies nearly rs 15 crore (rs 14.85 crore). The case highlights digital arrest scams, where victims are virtually detained to extract money. Police advise immediate contact with the helpline for such incidents.