BENGALURU, 23 JULY 

Two women were allegedly held hostage on a video call for nearly nine hours and forced to strip naked under the pretext of an “online medical examination” by fraudsters posing as police officers in a case of “digital arrest”, police said on Wednesday.

The women were also "threatened with the nude images and videos recorded during the so-called medical examination," which the fraudsters claimed was necessary to identify birthmarks and moles, police said.

In the FIR, a 46-year-old City woman said she and her childhood friend, an international instructor based in Thailand who is currently visiting India, were scammed by individuals claiming to be police officials from the Colaba Police Station in Mumbai.

On 17 July, at around 11am, her friend received a call from the fraudsters, who alleged that she was involved in a "Jet Airways scam".

According to the FIR, the fraudsters accused her of " money laundering, trafficking, and even murder."

They shared her accurate bank card details to bolster their claims. Fearing serious consequences, the women transferred Rs 58,477 to a specified bank account, as instructed.

The women were also threatened with what appeared to be official documents—an arrest warrant and other paperwork supposedly from the CBI—related to money laundering.

"They then told us we were under digital and home arrest and ordered us to remain on a WhatsApp video call for 24 hours. We weren’t allowed to leave the house, as they claimed we were under surveillance," the complainant stated.

Later, her childhood friend managed to contact another friend via WhatsApp and narrated their ordeal, who made her immediately disconnect the call. 

Soon after, the fraudsters began sending them their nude photos—captured during the so-called medical examination—and threatened to make them public.

"For about nine hours, we were subjected to continuous harassment," the complaint added. Digital arrest is a term used in cyber fraud cases where victims are falsely informed that they are under surveillance or in legal custody through digital means. Fraudsters often pose as the government to manipulate the victims.