A 68-year-old man in Maharashtra's Thane district was cheated of ₹23.5 lakh by cyber fraudsters, police confirmed on Monday, December 22, 2025. The scammers used a new trick called 'digital arrest.' They threatened the man with arrest over supposedly suspicious bank transactions. The man received WhatsApp video calls from two unknown fraudsters claiming to be officials. They warned him about alleged irregularities and said he could face 'digital arrest.' They promised to help him if he cooperated. Under pressure, the man transferred money multiple times online between December 8 and 12. The victim realized the fraud after telling acquaintances and then reported the matter to Kalyan police. Assistant Inspector Vinod Patil of Mahatma Phule police station confirmed a case is registered under the Information Technology Act. He said, "We are analysing bank transaction details, call records and digital evidence to track down the accused." This is the second such cybercrime case reported in Thane this week. Cyber fraudsters often use audio and video calls to scare victims and trap them into paying money. Police warn people to stay alert and verify any suspicious calls claiming to be from government agencies.