In a dramatic intervention, the Ahmedabad Cybercrime Police on Friday rescued a senior citizen from the clutches of cybercriminals, preventing a potential loss of approximately Rs 1.43 crore. The fraudsters had placed the elderly man under a terrifying "digital arrest" for nearly six days, pressuring him to liquidate his life savings.
Alert Mutual Fund Agent Uncovers the Scam
The case first came to light on Wednesday, thanks to the vigilance of Palak Doshi, who runs a mutual fund office on Gurukul Road. Doshi had recently watched an educational video on Instagram about digital arrest scams. This prompted him to check on an elderly client from Ghatlodia, who had seemed unusually anxious and was seeking to prematurely redeem mutual fund investments worth Rs 93 lakh.
The client claimed the money was urgently needed for his son living abroad. However, when Doshi contacted the son, who is settled in Australia, he discovered the claim was completely false. Realising his client was likely trapped in a sophisticated cyber fraud, Doshi immediately alerted the Cybercrime police station.
Swift Police Action and Bank Coordination
Acting on real-time directives from the city police commissioner and joint commissioner of police (crime), a team was swiftly mobilised. The in-charge deputy commissioner of police directed officers to verify the situation and assist the senior citizen. When police found his residence locked, they tracked his mobile location to a private bank near Ankur Crossroads, where he was likely attempting to withdraw funds.
In a critical move, the police immediately contacted the bank manager, requesting that the man not be allowed to proceed with any large withdrawal. A team led by Police Sub-Inspector P A Hirpara and Constable Nilesh Kalidas rushed to the bank.
Rescuing the Victim and Explaining the Fraud
At the bank, the officers found the elderly man visibly shaken and distressed. He was initially reluctant to hand over his phone, insisting he was under a legitimate "digital arrest" by authorities. The police calmly escorted him back to his home.
In the presence of his relatives and close friends, the officers explained the fraudster's modus operandi. An examination of his phone revealed fake digital arrest documents shared over WhatsApp by a caller posing as an officer from the Mumbai Crime Branch. The fraudster had kept the victim under constant pressure, instructing him to transfer funds for "verification" purposes.
The police counselled the victim, clarifying that no legal provision for "digital arrest" exists in India, and that no genuine police officer, investigating agency, or judge ever seeks money over WhatsApp calls.
A Massive Financial Loss Averted
The timely intervention by the alert mutual fund agent and the swift, coordinated response of the Ahmedabad Cybercrime Police saved the senior citizen from a devastating financial blow. Officials confirmed that the action prevented the transfer of Rs 93 lakh from mutual funds and around Rs 50 lakh from bank fixed deposits, effectively averting a total fraud of Rs 1.43 crore.
This case highlights the importance of public awareness and real-time coordination between citizens, police, and financial institutions to combat the rising threat of sophisticated cybercrime.
