A medical professional in Gujrat suffered a financial loss of 19 crore rupees due to a digital arrest fraud scheme. Here's the details of the incident.
A senior woman doctor from Gandhinagar, Gujarat, has fallen victim to a sophisticated digital arrest scam, losing approximately Rs 19 crore over a period of three months starting March 15, 2025.
The scam began with a call from an individual impersonating a Department of Telecommunications officer, claiming objectionable content was found on her phone and threatening to implicate her in money laundering under laws like FEMA and PMLA. Over time, multiple fraudsters posing as police officers, public prosecutors, and officials psychologically terrorized the doctor with threats of arrest and legal action.
Under such intense pressure and manipulation, the doctor was coerced to liquidate her assets, including breaking fixed deposits, selling gold jewellery and taking loans against it, selling shares from her stock portfolio, and selling her house. The fraudsters siphoned money through 35 different bank accounts, one of which was tied to Lalji Jayantibhai Baldaniya of Surat, who was arrested by the Gujarat police and is currently under interrogation. About Rs 1 crore was traced to his account, but a large portion of the stolen funds remains unrecovered as money was dispersed widely.
The cybercrime unit of Gujarat CID is conducting an ongoing investigation, relying on digital trails to identify the full scam network. The search for the masterminds behind the operation is ongoing.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the doctor was compelled to share her movements over video calls, reporting her location whenever she stepped outside. The fraudsters even used her credentials to take a loan against her gold jewellery and transfer those funds.
This case may be one of the largest known cases of digital arrest fraud in India in terms of the money siphoned from a single victim. The investigation is focusing on mapping out the full extent of the scam using digital evidence. Police have arrested one suspect in Surat, who received Rs 1 crore of the stolen funds. The doctor, who lost Rs 19 crore, is left to pick up the pieces and rebuild her life.
The cybercrime unit of Gujarat CID began probing the case on July 16. The investigation is ongoing, and the search for the masterminds behind the operation continues. The doctor's harrowing experience serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by digital fraud and the importance of staying vigilant against such scams.
- As technology advancements continue to revolutionize all aspects of life, including general-news platforms, this digital arrest fraud case from Gandhinagar underscores the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures, especially with regards to smartphones.
- In the changing digital landscape, where cybercrime like digital arrest scams is rising, it is crucial for everyone, particularly seniors like the victimized doctor, to stay updated about cybersecurity best practices and crime-and-justice trends to safeguard their assets and personal information.
