Investigators in Bengaluru are probing a massive cybercrime after a 57-year-old software engineer revealed she was coerced into transferring Rs 31.83 crore over six months by fraudsters who pretended to be officials from various national agencies. The criminals allegedly forced her into a state of “digital confinement,” making her stay under continuous Skype video surveillance while they extracted money in 187 transactions.

Months of Coercion Before the Truth Emerged

The woman approached the police only after her son’s wedding in June 2025, saying the psychological trauma and constant intimidation left her unable to report earlier. In her complaint, she stated, “In total, through 187 transactions, I stand deprived of a total amount of approximately Rs 31.83 crores, which were deposited by me.”

She also said the prolonged stress led to a month-long period of medical treatment.

How a Phone Call Triggered a Six-Month Nightmare

Her ordeal began on September 15, 2024, when she received a call from someone claiming to be employed at DHL’s Andheri centre. The caller alleged that a package sent in her name contained credit cards, multiple passports and MDMA, and that her phone number was linked to the suspicious parcel.

Before she could respond, she was connected to individuals pretending to be CBI officials, one of whom informed her that “all evidence is against you”.

Threats, Surveillance and Fake Authority

The fraudsters convinced her that dangerous criminals were monitoring her residence and that contacting the police would put her family at risk. Her son’s approaching wedding deepened her fear, and she followed every instruction given to her. She was told to install two Skype IDs through which she remained visible to the scammers at all times.

For two days, a man identifying himself as Mohit Handa kept watch, followed by Rahul Yadav for a week. A third impersonator, Pradeep Singh, acted as a senior officer and pressured her relentlessly to “prove her innocence”.

Financial Draining Under the Guise of Verification

By late September, the criminals had obtained every detail of her finances. They then instructed her to deposit nearly all her assets for supposed verification by the Financial Intelligence Unit under the RBI. Between September 24 and October 22, she shared complete banking details.

From October 24 to November 3, she transferred Rs 2 crore as a “surety amount”, after which the scammers demanded more money as “taxes” and “processing charges”.

Fake Certificates and Manipulated Deadlines

To make the scheme appear legitimate, forged documents were shown to her, including a fabricated clearance letter dated December 1, 2024. Believing that her name would soon be cleared, she proceeded with her son’s engagement on December 6.

However, the criminals continued to push new deadlines, assuring her that the deposited money would be reimbursed by February 2025.

She told PTI,  “I was told that the money would be returned by February 25 after completion of all procedures.”

Communication Cut Off in March

The woman remained under daily digital surveillance even while unwell. Eventually, on March 26, 2025, all contact from the fraudsters stopped abruptly. Only after the wedding preparations and her recovery did she muster the courage to approach the police in November 2025.

Police Begin Tracing the Network

The East Cybercrime Police Station has registered the case and is analysing the transaction trail. Officials say that because the loss exceeds Rs 3 crore, the matter could be transferred to the CID for deeper investigation. Officers noted that the criminals appeared to have tracked her phone activity and location, adding to the believability of their threats.