One Call, ₹2.20 Crore Gone: Police Stunned by Cyber Fraud Breakthrough

In a jaw-dropping cybercrime case, fraudsters siphoned ₹2.20 crore from a Delhi businessman’s account in a single day on May 7, 2025, using a single phone number that unraveled their audacious scheme. The Delhi Police, initially baffled by the scale and speed of the heist, made a breakthrough by tracing the number, exposing a chilling digital arrest scam that has sent shockwaves through the city.

The Digital Arrest Deception
The victim, a south Delhi entrepreneur, received a call from an unknown number claiming to be a CBI officer. The caller alleged that a parcel linked to the victim contained illegal goods, threatening immediate arrest unless funds were transferred for “clearance.” Under intense pressure, the victim complied, transferring ₹2.20 crore via RTGS to multiple accounts. The scammers, operating from Southeast Asia, used spoofed Indian numbers to maintain anonymity, a tactic increasingly common in digital arrest frauds.

A Single Number Cracks the Case
Delhi Police’s cybercrime unit traced the phone number to a virtual SIM hosted in Cambodia, a hub for such scams. Analysis revealed the number was linked to WhatsApp and Telegram accounts used to coordinate the fraud. By cross-referencing call logs and bank transactions, investigators identified mule accounts in India, rented out by locals for commissions. This breakthrough, described as “stunning” by DCP Cybercrime, highlighted the sophisticated yet traceable nature of modern cyber fraud.

Rising Cybercrime Threat
The case underscores India’s growing cybercrime epidemic, with ₹11,333 crore lost to scams in 2024 alone. Digital arrest frauds, exploiting fear and impersonation, accounted for ₹1,616 crore in losses last year. Authorities urge citizens to verify suspicious calls via official channels and report incidents to the 1930 helpline.

Strengthening Defenses
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has blocked over 83,000 WhatsApp accounts linked to such scams. The government’s ₹1,900 crore cybersecurity budget for 2025 aims to bolster digital defenses, but public awareness remains critical to thwarting these evolving threats.