Bengaluru: In a disturbing case that highlights the growing sophistication of cybercrime, two women in Bengaluru were digitally held hostage for nearly nine hours, forced to disrobe during a fake “online medical exam” by fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers. The scammers duped the victims—childhood friends—into believing they were under digital arrest and being monitored for alleged involvement in money laundering and human trafficking.
The incident took place on July 17 and has been reported to the East CEN Crime Police. One of the victims, Anne (name changed), is a Bengaluru resident, while her friend Richa, an instructor working in Thailand, was visiting India at the time.
The ordeal began around 11 am when Richa received a call from a man claiming to be a police officer from Mumbai’s Colaba police station. He accused her of being linked to a high-profile money laundering case involving Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, and also of involvement in human trafficking and even murder.
Terrified, Richa tried to defend herself, but the caller unnerved her by citing accurate personal details, including her debit card information. She was shown what appeared to be official documents such as a forged CBI ID card and an arrest warrant. Anne, who joined the call, was similarly convinced of the authenticity of the accusations.
To strengthen the illusion, the fraudsters initiated a video call pretending to connect the women to Central Bureau of Investigation officers. The scammers then told them they were under a “digital arrest” and must remain on WhatsApp video call for 24 hours under surveillance.
Claiming Reserve Bank of India rules mandated immediate verification of their financial activity, the crooks instructed Richa to transfer ₹58,447 to an account for inspection, promising the funds would be returned if cleared. Fraudsters impersonated various officials, including those from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Delhi Police, to maintain the ruse.
Fake Medical Examination and Abuse
What followed was even more horrific. The criminals informed the women they needed to undergo an online “medical exam” to verify their identities by checking for tattoos, moles, or “bullet wounds.” Under this pretext, the victims were coerced into stripping naked on camera.
Anne told police they complied with the instructions as they were convinced their homes were under surveillance and that an arrest warrant had been issued against Richa. Unknown to them, the fraudsters were recording the video call and even body-shamed them during the process.
Escape and Extortion Threats
Around 8 pm, after enduring hours of fear, humiliation, and pressure, Richa managed to contact another friend through WhatsApp. When she explained what had happened, the friend immediately urged her to hang up the call and stop further communication.
Once the call ended, the fraudsters began threatening the women by sending them screenshots and video clips of their nude recordings. They warned they would release the content online if the women didn’t comply further. However, Anne said they deleted the files immediately and did not download or save any of them due to overwhelming shame and distress.
Police Action Underway
A senior police officer confirmed that a case has been registered under multiple sections of the Information Technology Act and Section 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigations are ongoing to trace the culprits.
Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and never comply with such digital demands, no matter how convincing the callers may seem.
