Ex-Science Secretary loses ₹57L to digital arrest scam
Padma Bhushan awardee and former Science Secretary T Ramasami (77) was tricked out of ₹57 lakh by scammers who first posed as TRAI officials, then as Delhi Police and CBI officers.
They claimed his SIM cards were linked to criminal complaints, then used fake police video calls and a bogus arrest warrant to convince him he was in serious trouble.
How the scam worked—and what's happening now
The fraudsters kept Ramasami isolated, pressuring him into transferring cash and breaking fixed deposits for "verification."
Despite this, they let him attend an award ceremony during the ordeal.
He reported the crime online, prompting a police investigation that has since traced the scam's roots to Cambodia, Tokyo, and Singapore.
The money trail runs through local mule accounts and even cryptocurrency.
According to police reports, Tamil Nadu has seen a significant number of similar cases targeting seniors recently—so it's a good reminder for everyone to stay alert online.