A doctor in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was victimized in a digital arrest scam, resulting in a loss of ₹19 crore. Cybercriminals employed this scheme for three months to defraud the doctor. The scam unfolded when the doctor received a call on March 15, falsely claiming that her phone contained illicit content. The caller, posing as a law enforcement officer, threatened her with phone disconnection and involvement in a money laundering case. The doctor, subjected to constant pressure and threats, was coerced into transferring her life savings to 35 bank accounts. The fraudsters further used her credentials to secure a loan against her gold jewelry and transfer the funds. The doctor was also forced to share her activities via video calls and reveal her location. When the calls abruptly ended, she realized something was wrong and informed her family, but it was too late. Following a complaint filed on July 16, the Gujarat CID’s cyber crime unit launched an investigation. Authorities believe this could be among the most significant digital arrest fraud cases in India.
During the investigation, police arrested a suspect in Surat who had received ₹1 crore in stolen funds in their bank account. The investigation is ongoing to uncover the network involved. Digital arrest scams involve criminals impersonating law enforcement officials, such as those from the CBI, police, cyber cell, or ED, to intimidate victims and commit fraud.