A 67-year-old retired man from Gandhinagar fell victim to a sophisticated and prolonged cyber fraud, losing a staggering Rs 35.25 lakh after being held under a terrifying "digital arrest" for six days. The fraudsters impersonated high-ranking officials from multiple agencies to execute their elaborate con.
The Elaborate Web of Deception
The ordeal began on October 11, 2025, when the complainant, a resident of Sargasan who had recently returned from Kuwait, received a call. The caller claimed to be an employee of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). He levelled a series of shocking allegations against the senior citizen, including misuse of Aadhaar, illegal Jio WiFi usage, and involvement in serious crimes like child pornography and illegal gambling.
When the man denied the accusations, the call was swiftly transferred to a person posing as a sub-inspector with the Maharashtra cybercrime branch. This marked the beginning of an intense psychological operation. The fake officer contacted the victim via WhatsApp video calls, appearing in police uniform to add authenticity. He demanded copies of the victim's Aadhaar card and later sent images of a forged Supreme Court order and an international debit card allegedly issued in the complainant's name.
Six Days of Virtual Captivity and Financial Drain
The fraudsters then raised the stakes by introducing another accomplice who claimed to be a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) from Mumbai's cybercrime unit. The victim was told he would be taken into physical custody for 90 days for verification and that all his financial assets would be examined and temporarily deposited with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
From October 11 to October 16, the accused kept the retired man under constant video surveillance, instructing him not to leave his house and to remain available on calls at all times. This state of "digital arrest" created immense fear and compliance.
Under this pressure, the victim was coerced into liquidating his savings. He withdrew money from his fixed deposits, SIPs, and senior citizen savings schemes. On October 14 and 15, acting on the fraudsters' instructions, he transferred large sums from his Bank of Baroda and HDFC Bank accounts to provided accounts in IndusInd Bank and Axis Bank. The criminals even sent partial receipts to maintain a facade of legitimacy.
The Unravelling and Police Action
The scam finally began to unravel when the fraudsters made further demands. The victim, whose identity is protected, grew suspicious and contacted the cybercrime helpline. A complaint was subsequently filed with the cyber police of the Gandhinagar range on Wednesday following the incident.
The police have registered a case under relevant sections for cheating, impersonation, extortion, and criminal conspiracy. The investigation is ongoing to track the money trail and identify the perpetrators who orchestrated this cruel scam targeting a senior citizen.
This case highlights the alarming trend of "digital arrest" scams where criminals use technology and fear to immobilize victims virtually while plundering their life savings. It serves as a critical warning for the public, especially elderly citizens, to be extremely cautious of unsolicited calls claiming to be from government or law enforcement agencies demanding money or personal information.
