A retired school teacher, aged 65, from Gandhinagar, Gujarat, reported being subjected to a “digital arrest” lasting 28 days, during which she was defrauded of Rs 99 lakh by cyber criminals impersonating central investigation officials. The incident has attracted attention from the Gandhinagar Range Cyber Crime Police, who are now investigating the complexities of this case, indicative of an alarming rise in sophisticated online scams despite increased public awareness efforts by authorities.

Details of the Incident

The complainant, residing in Sector 8 of Gandhinagar, received a phone call on January 16 from an unknown number. The caller informed her that a SIM card registered in her name was implicated in illicit activities and linked to threatening calls. Following this initial contact, she received a video call from an individual claiming to be “Ajay Gupta,” who asserted he was a CBI officer. The caller further claimed that her bank accounts were entangled in a money laundering investigation, warning her of imminent arrest if she did not cooperate.

Impersonation of Government Officials

The fraudsters escalated the situation by also impersonating officials from the Department of Telecommunications to intensify the pressure on the victim. To lend credibility to their threats, they allegedly sent forged documents via WhatsApp, which included fabricated Supreme Court orders, arrest warrants, and documents purporting to be from the Mumbai Crime Branch. This elaborate scheme succeeded in instilling fear and compliance in the victim.

Surveillance and Coercion

Financial Exploitation Under Duress

Under the guise of aiding with a financial verification process to clear her name, the fraudsters pressured her into transferring her savings from accounts at the State Bank of India and a local post office to various other bank accounts through RTGS transactions. This coercion occurred between February 5 and February 13, after which the retired teacher had transferred a total of Rs 99 lakh, driven by fear of potential legal repercussions.

Realization of the Fraud and Subsequent Action

After the promised verification process did not yield her money back, the victim realized she had been deceived and chose to contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 for assistance. Subsequently, a formal complaint was filed at the Gandhinagar Range Cyber Crime Police Station. Authorities are currently working to trace the suspects involved in this elaborate scam and are focused on recovering the lost funds for the victim.

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