Alarming new data from the Chandigarh Police has exposed a disturbing trend in cybercrime, revealing that senior citizens are overwhelmingly the primary targets of high-value 'digital arrest' scams in the city. The statistics show that in eight out of the top ten such cases reported in 2024 and 2025, the victims were aged 70 and above.
Elderly Bear the Brunt of Sophisticated Cyber Fraud
According to figures released by the Union Territory police, victims aged between 71 and 89 years were targeted in the majority of these sophisticated scams. The remaining two cases involved victims aged 57 and 53. Police officials attribute this vulnerability to a higher propensity among the elderly to trust communication that appears to be from official authorities.
Fraudsters typically impersonate officers from agencies like the police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), or the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). They falsely accuse victims of being involved in serious crimes such as money laundering or fraud, creating a climate of fear and urgency.
The Mechanics of a Digital Arrest: Fear, Fake Courts, and Frozen Screens
The scam operates by placing the victim under continuous audio or video surveillance, a tactic termed 'digital arrest.' The criminals use this constant monitoring to psychologically pressure and coerce victims into transferring large sums of money to avoid a fictitious arrest.
In a chilling case reported in November, a 73-year-old resident of Sector 45 was manipulated into transferring Rs 52 lakh after cybercriminals threatened him with arrest in a fake case from Mumbai's Colaba police station. The scammers went as far as showing the victim, retired private sector employee Shashi Kumar Sahai, a fake courtroom over a video call. They justified the constant video watch by citing his status as a senior citizen. The fraud was uncovered only when Sahai's son discovered his father was under surveillance by unknown callers.
In another elaborate month-long deception, an elderly Chandigarh couple was cheated of Rs 85 lakh. The fraudsters convinced them they were suspects in a money laundering case and that only specific 'officials' could secure a 'Priority Innocence Verification Certificate' to prevent arrest. An FIR filed on December 9 details how the scam meticulously mimicked a genuine government investigation.
Evolving Threat: Forged Documents and Multiple Impersonators
Deputy Superintendent of Police A Venkatesh of the Cyber Crime Cell highlighted the increasing sophistication of these crimes. "The criminals no longer rely on one phone call," he stated. "They now build an entire parallel investigation, complete with forged documents, multiple impersonators and continuous psychological pressure."
In the case of the couple, the ruse began in early October with a call from a man posing as a TRAI official, claiming their Aadhaar details were misused. The call was then transferred to others impersonating senior vigilance and financial intelligence officers, who used authoritative bureaucratic language to enhance credibility.
The data also includes a staggering case where a retired Indian Army officer, Colonel (retired) Dalip Singh (82), and his wife (74) from Sector 2A, lost Rs 3.4 crore to fraudsters posing as ED personnel.
Top 10 Digital Arrest Cases in Chandigarh (Amount Involved):
- 80 Years: Rs 3.45 crore
- 82 Years: Rs 3.41 crore
- 71 Years: Rs 2.5 crore
- 71 Years: Rs 1.01 crore (adjusted from original data for context)
- 81 Years: Rs 95 lakh
- 78 Years: Rs 80 lakh
- 89 Years: Rs 77.42 lakh
- 76 Years: Rs 72 lakh
- 53 Years: Rs 57.16 lakh
- 57 Years: Rs 51 lakh
Public Advisory from Cyber Police:
Dos: Always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be an official before sharing information. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication on all financial and email accounts. Report any cyber fraud immediately to the national helpline 1930 or via cybercrime.gov.in to improve recovery chances. Monitor bank statements and transaction alerts regularly.
Don'ts: Never share OTPs, PINs, CVV numbers, or login credentials with anyone. Do not click on unknown links or download unverified apps. Avoid acting under panic or fear created by threatening calls or messages. Never scan QR codes or approve payment requests from unknown sources.
