Home / Crime and Justice / Elderly Man Loses Rs 7 Cr in Elaborate Digital Arrest Scam
Elderly Man Loses Rs 7 Cr in Elaborate Digital Arrest Scam
4 Jan
Summary
- Elderly man 'digitally arrested' for three weeks by cyber fraudsters.
- Fraudsters posed as CBI and Mumbai Crime Branch officials.
- Scam linked to a Chinese cybercrime gang operating from Cambodia.
An 82-year-old man from Ahmedabad fell victim to an elaborate cyberfraud, losing over Rs 7 crore after being subjected to a "digital arrest." The deception began with calls from individuals impersonating CBI and Mumbai Crime Branch officials, who falsely accused him of involvement in a money laundering case.
Over nearly three weeks, fraudsters maintained continuous video calls, fabricated evidence of illegal transactions, and presented fake arrest warrants. This intimidation tactic, coupled with threats of imprisonment and public defamation, led the victim to transfer Rs 7.12 crore to accounts controlled by the criminals.
The investigation revealed the scam is part of an international network connected to a Chinese cybercrime syndicate based in Cambodia. Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has arrested 12 individuals allegedly facilitating the transactions, with the money being converted to cryptocurrency and sent abroad. Authorities have recovered only a fraction of the stolen amount.
