Ahmedabad Senior Citizen Defrauded of Rs 9.8 Lakh in Elaborate Cybercrime Scheme
In a distressing incident from Ahmedabad, an 81-year-old resident of Science City in Sola has reported being swindled out of Rs 9.8 lakh by cybercriminals who employed a sophisticated blend of phone calls and WhatsApp video calls. The scammers presented a fabricated "arrest warrant" and falsely accused the elderly man of involvement in a money-laundering case, leading to significant financial loss and emotional trauma.
How the Scam Unfolded: A Timeline of Deception
According to a complaint filed with the Cybercrime police on Friday, the fraudulent activity began around February 3. The victim received multiple calls from unknown numbers, with the caller alleging that his Aadhaar card had been misused. The conversation quickly escalated to WhatsApp video calls, where the scammer introduced himself as a police officer from Mumbai, claiming the senior citizen's name had surfaced in a major fraud investigation.
The imposter issued stern warnings, instructing the victim not to share any details with family members, asserting that the probe was confidential and handled by a central agency. Threats of immediate arrest were made, and a fake "warrant" was displayed on screen to intimidate him further. The caller falsely stated that bail would be denied in such cases and claimed surveillance was being conducted near his home, even forbidding him from routine walks without permission.
Financial Exploitation and Bank Intervention
Under duress, the victim was coerced into transferring money via RTGS to various bank accounts under the guise of "fund verification." He complied, transferring Rs 6.5 lakh from a nationalised bank account and an additional Rs 3.2 lakh from another account. On February 6, a further attempt to transfer Rs 6 lakh was initiated, but a vigilant bank manager intervened, suspecting fraud and successfully halting an RTGS transaction of Rs 4 lakh, preventing additional losses.
Legal Action and Complaint Filing
Following the incident, the victim lodged an online complaint through the cybercrime helpline 1930. He has sought legal action against the perpetrators and the recipients of the transferred funds under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include:
- Section 204: Personating a public servant
- Section 308(2): Extortion with threats to publish defamatory libel
- Section 316(2): Criminal breach of trust
- Section 318(4): Cheating
- Section 61(2): Criminal conspiracy
This case highlights the growing menace of cybercrime targeting vulnerable populations, particularly senior citizens, and underscores the importance of vigilance and prompt reporting to authorities.
