An elderly doctor couple living in South Delhi’s Greater Kailash has lost ₹14.85 crore in cyber fraud, where scammers kept them under continuous mental pressure through phone and video calls for more than two weeks. Police have described the method used as a “digital arrest”, a growing cybercrime tactic targeting senior citizens.
VIDEO | Delhi: Cyber fraudsters duped an NRI elderly couple of Rs 14.85 crore in a “digital arrest” scam. The victims said they were trapped through a series of fake calls and video interactions by people posing as telecom officials and police officers, who accused them of money… pic.twitter.com/52a9veOBdn
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 11, 2026
The victims, Dr Om Taneja and his wife, Dr Indira Taneja, are both retired doctors. They spent nearly 48 years in the United States, including service with the United Nations, before returning to India after retirement. The couple shifted back around 2015–2016 and had been living quietly in Greater Kailash, South Delhi. Their children are settled abroad, and the couple was also involved in charitable work after returning to India.
The fraud began on 24th December, 2025, when Dr Indira Taneja, who is 77 years old, received a phone call from a person claiming to be an official of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The caller told her that her mobile number was being used to make abusive and suspicious calls. Soon after, she was accused of holding black money and being linked to money laundering and serious national security issues. The callers later posed as law enforcement officers and mentioned laws such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to make the threats sound convincing.
From 24th December to 10th January, the couple was kept under constant watch through repeated phone and video calls. Police say the scammers took advantage of the couple’s isolated lifestyle and fear of legal trouble. Dr Indira Taneja told investigators that her movements were closely monitored. If she stepped out of the house or tried to contact anyone, the scammers would immediately start a video call, often using her husband’s phone, to ensure she stayed under control.
During this period, she was forced to visit banks multiple times and transfer large sums of money to different bank accounts provided by the scammers. Before every bank visit, she was carefully coached on what to say if bank staff questioned the transactions. Even when a bank manager raised doubts about the unusually large transfers, she repeated the explanation given to her.
Over time, money was transferred to eight different accounts, sometimes ₹2 crore at once and sometimes more than ₹2.10 crore, taking the total loss to nearly ₹14.85 crore.
The fraud came to light when the callers suddenly changed their tone and told her that the case was closed and the money would be returned by the Reserve Bank of India. She was asked to visit her local police station, with the assurance that the police had already been informed. Shockingly, she went to the police station while still on a video call with the scammers and even allowed them to speak directly to the station house officer. According to her statement, the callers spoke rudely to police personnel.
It was only after reaching the police station that Dr Indira Taneja realised the truth there was no refund, no investigation, and the entire story was fake. The couple is said to be deeply shaken after losing their life savings.
The matter was reported to the National Cyber Crime Helpline number 1930, following which an e-FIR was registered. Delhi Police has taken up the case and, given the seriousness and the huge amount involved, transferred the investigation to the Special Cell’s cyber unit, the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO). The probe is ongoing.
Similar cases highlight growing cyber threat
A similar incident was stopped just in time in Lucknow, where police saved a 75-year-old widow, Usha Shukla, from losing ₹1.5 crore. She had been kept under digital arrest for several days by fraudsters pretending to be CBI officers. The criminals used WhatsApp video calls, showed fake visuals of officers in uniform, and forced her to break fixed deposits.
The fraud was prevented after bank officials at a Punjab National Bank branch became suspicious and alerted the police, who reached her home while she was still on a video call with the scammers.
In another recent case, a working professional fell victim to what is now being called a “boss scam”. The fraud took place through email, where scammers impersonated the victim’s boss and convinced them to buy Amazon gift vouchers.
Trusting the display name and ongoing conversation, the victim borrowed money and shared voucher codes, which were quickly misused. The scam was later reported on the Government of India’s cybercrime portal, and Amazon has also warned users about this growing trend.
These cases show how cyber criminals are using fear, trust, and emotional pressure to trap people. From digital arrests to impersonation scams, fraudsters are constantly changing their methods, making awareness and quick reporting more important than ever.
