Nagpur: A 72-year-old woman from Nagpur’s Khamla-Somlawada area allegedly lost ₹45.50 lakh after cyber fraudsters trapped her in a ‘digital arrest’ scam by falsely claiming that she was linked to a money-laundering and terrorism case.

The incident occurred on September 7, while the victim, Malati Pandurang Bhajipale (72), approached the Cyber Police and lodged a complaint on September 22.

According to the complaint, Bhajipale was at home when she received calls from mobile numbers 7416529563 and 7297909521. One of the callers allegedly introduced himself as Pradeep Jaiswal from Kulgaon Police Station.

The caller allegedly told Bhajipale that a Canara Bank account had been opened in her name and that transactions worth ₹2 crore had been carried out through it. He further claimed that the money had been used for terrorist activities.

The fraudsters allegedly threatened the elderly woman with arrest and sent her fabricated documents purportedly bearing the names or identities of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Supreme Court and Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

They allegedly told her that she was under ‘digital arrest’ and instructed her to transfer money as part of the supposed investigation.

Believing the threats and documents to be genuine, Bhajipale allegedly transferred ₹45,50,200 to bank accounts specified by the fraudsters.

She later realised that she had been cheated and approached the Cyber Police. A case was subsequently registered against the persons using the two mobile numbers and other unidentified accused.

The Cyber Police have invoked relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and impersonation, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act.

Police are investigating the money transfers and other digital evidence to identify the accused and trace the defrauded amount.