A Gandhinagar-based doctor was scammed out of Rs 19 crore through fake calls posing as law enforcement in a ‘digital arrest’ scheme.
The victim was coerced into transferring money, taking loans, and sharing her location over video calls under constant threat.
One suspect has been arrested; authorities are tracing digital evidence to recover funds and identify the scam’s masterminds.
A doctor based in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar has become the victim of one of the most shocking cyber frauds, losing Rs 19 crore over a span of three months in a ‘digital arrest’ scam. The scam started on March 15, when the doctor received a phone call from someone claiming that objectionable content had been detected on her mobile phone. The caller threatened to disconnect her phone connection and implicate her in a money laundering case if she did not cooperate. What followed was a series of coordinated and manipulative calls from individuals posing as officials, including a sub-inspector and a public prosecutor, to create fear and force her into submission.
SurveyOver time, the doctor, overwhelmed by psychological pressure and threats, was manipulated into transferring her life’s savings, 19 crore into 35 different bank accounts. The fraudsters went further, using her credentials to take a loan against her gold jewellery and transferring those funds as well. Under constant intimidation, the doctor was compelled to share her movements over video calls, reporting her location whenever she stepped outside.
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When the call suddenly stopped, she realised something was wrong and informed her relatives, but by then, the damage had already been done. Acting on a complaint received on July 16, the cybercrime unit of Gujarat CID began probing the case. Investigators believe this may be one of the largest known cases of digital arrest fraud in India in terms of the money siphoned from a single victim.
Following an intense investigation, police tracked down and arrested one suspect in Surat, whose bank account had received Rs 1 crore of the stolen funds. He is currently under interrogation as authorities attempt to identify other members of the network behind the operation.
While a portion of the money has been traced, a large chunk remains unrecovered, having been dispersed across multiple accounts. The search for the masterminds is ongoing, with officials relying on digital evidence to map out the full extent of the scam.
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Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
