In a shocking case of cyber deception, a 28-year-old school dropout from Vadodara has been arrested for allegedly swindling lakhs of rupees from more than 100 individuals, predominantly parents and staff associated with Santram School in Nadiad. The accused, Pritesh Prajapati, a textiles businessman, was apprehended by the Nadiad (West) police following a series of complaints from victims who lost money after receiving fraudulent calls and messages that appeared to originate from known contacts.
The 'Jugadu' Conman and His Modus Operandi
Contrary to the image of a sophisticated hacker, investigators describe Prajapati as a 'jugadu' – a resourceful trickster. His weapon was not advanced technology but psychological manipulation using familiar names and fabricated emergencies. Police stated that Prajapati, who studied only till Class 11, is deeply in debt from online gambling and business losses. He has at least 14 criminal cases registered against him across Ahmedabad, Sabarkantha, Rajkot, Morbi, Amreli, and Junagadh, including 10 cases of cybercheating. He was also previously detained under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA).
His method was alarmingly simple yet effective. "He is not an expert hacker, but more of a jugadu," said investigating officer K H Chaudhary of Nadiad (West) police. Prajapati's operation began by infiltrating WhatsApp groups with many members.
His step-by-step process involved:
- First, obtaining the phone number of one group member, such as a parent from the Nadiad school.
- Using a caller ID app to familiarize himself with the member's identity.
- Registering his own WhatsApp account using that victim's phone number.
- Calling the actual number owner to con them into sharing the OTP verification code by pretending it was for school-related work.
- Once inside the group, he would pose as the trusted contact and plead for urgent financial help or request OTPs for school procedures.
How Parents and Staff Were Duped
The scam unfolded through two primary narratives. In some instances, parents received calls or messages requesting urgent financial assistance for purported emergencies. In others, they were asked to share OTPs for school-related services, such as accessing digital report cards. Believing the requests were from legitimate school staff or other parents, many complied.
The fallout came to light on December 16 when parents and school staff reported that their phone numbers had been compromised and significant sums siphoned off. Specific complaints highlighted the losses: one parent lost Rs 16,000 after sharing an OTP with a caller posing as school staff, while another transferred Rs 15,000 after receiving a WhatsApp call pleading for urgent medical help.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
Through a combination of human intelligence and cyber surveillance, police tracked Pritesh Prajapati to Vadodara and placed him under arrest. The investigation has now widened. "We are also probing whether he has cheated other schools using the same modus operandi," added Officer Chaudhary.
This case serves as a stark warning against the growing trend of cyber fraud through impersonation. Police have issued a strong advisory urging parents and citizens to exercise extreme caution:
- Never share OTPs with anyone over call or message.
- Do not transfer money based on unsolicited calls or messages, even if the caller claims to be from a known institution or contact.
- Always verify urgent requests through a secondary, confirmed channel of communication.
The arrest exposes how low-tech social engineering, rather than high-tech hacking, can lead to widespread financial fraud, exploiting trust within close-knit community groups like school networks.
