Retired Tibetan Teacher Scammed of ₹1.61 Crore in "Digital Arrest" Fraud

Palden Chodak, a 72-year-old retired teacher from Mundgod’s Tibetan Colony, lost ₹1.61 crore to a "digital arrest" fraud. On November 29, 2025, scammers posing as Mumbai police contacted him via WhatsApp video. They falsely claimed his ATM card was linked to a captured terrorist and placed him under a psychological "digital arrest" for five days. Terrified, Chodak liquidated his life savings and borrowed funds to transfer the money for a fake "safekeeping" investigation. Karwar's Cyber Crime Police have registered a case.