An elderly businessman in Belagavi has fallen victim to a cyber fraud scheme, losing Rs 15 crore in what police describe as a “digital arrest” scam, authorities said on Saturday. The incident underscores the rising sophistication of online financial crimes targeting unsuspecting individuals.

The victim lodged a complaint at the Belagavi City Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police station. Following initial investigations, police have frozen several bank accounts linked to the accused, including one holding Rs 90 lakh from the stolen funds. Belagavi Police Commissioner Borse Bhushan Rao Gulabrao has set up a special team to trace and apprehend the perpetrators.

According to police reports, the fraudsters initially contacted the businessman through a video call, falsely claiming that his bank account had been flagged in a money laundering investigation. They threatened him with legal action and instructed him to transfer his funds to multiple accounts for “verification,” assuring him the money would be returned after the investigation. Trusting their claims, the businessman transferred the funds in stages, ultimately losing Rs 15 crore. The scam reportedly began on March 18, and the victim approached authorities only after the fraudsters became unreachable.

Also Read: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Calls Congress and Rahul Gandhi BJP's B-Team Ahead of Assembly Polls

This case is part of a growing trend of “digital arrest” scams in Karnataka. Earlier this month, a 94-year-old research scholar lost nearly Rs 5 crore to a similar scheme, while a 78-year-old woman in Bengaluru lost Rs 38 lakh after fraudsters posing as National Investigative Agency (NIA) officials coerced her into transferring money. In these scams, perpetrators falsely allege victims’ involvement in criminal activities to manipulate them into moving their assets.

Data from the Karnataka Home Department shows that the state lost Rs 11.6 crore to digital arrest scams between January and February 2026, with only Rs 25.2 lakh recovered. Between January 2023 and February 2026, such scams have extorted over Rs 468.6 crore from victims across the state. Annual figures indicate a sharp rise in both cases and losses over the past few years, with recovery rates remaining low.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara emphasized the state government’s commitment to cybercrime investigations, noting that Karnataka was home to the country’s first cybercrime police station, established in 2010. He highlighted that the state now has 45 CEN stations actively working to curb cyber fraud, signaling increased focus on protecting citizens against sophisticated online scams.

Also Read: Drone Attack Strikes Baghdad Security Building, Crashes Into Elite Sports Club