A 75-year-old retired doctor from Gandhinagar was duped of ₹19.24 crore over a span of 103 days in what police are calling a case of &lsquo;digital arrest&rsquo;, a growing form of cyber fraud where victims are psychologically manipulated into following criminals&rsquo; instructions.
According to the Gujarat CID Cyber Crime Cell, the scam began in March and continued until June. The woman was targeted through WhatsApp calls and messages from individuals impersonating senior officials from the Department of Telecommunications, Enforcement Directorate, and law enforcement agencies. The callers accused her of money laundering and claimed that her phone number was being used for sending offensive messages.
To intensify the fear, scammers sent her a fake ED notice naming her as an accused under FEMA and PMLA laws. They warned her not to speak to anyone, claiming that a plainclothes officer was monitoring her. Traumatized and isolated, the woman complied with their instructions and began liquidating her life savings.
Over three months, she encashed her fixed deposits, sold gold ornaments, took loans against valuables from her bank locker, sold her house and stock holdings, and transferred a total of ₹19.24 crore to multiple accounts, supposedly to secure a &ldquo;Financial Supervisionary Freezing Certificate&rdquo; that would absolve her from prosecution. The scammers falsely assured her that the money would be returned after verification.
The victim, in a deeply disturbed mental state, finally approached police with the help of family in July. A case was registered on July 16 after cybercrime officials and mental health counsellors helped her recall and document the events.
Speaking to Benefit News, SP Dharmendra Sharma of the State Cyber Crime Cell said, &ldquo;The victim was clearly traumatised. We identified this early on and had our team of counsellors support her through the complaint process.&rdquo;
Investigators have so far arrested one person and are probing potential links to Cambodia. Sharma said, &ldquo;There is a possibility of an international angle. While not confirmed yet, we are actively pursuing that lead.&rdquo;
Authorities have managed to seize ₹1 crore and are working to trace and recover the remaining funds. &ldquo;We are identifying bank accounts and other channels where the money was diverted,&rdquo; Sharma added.
Officials warn that the case reflects a disturbing trend of cybercriminals targeting senior citizens, especially those living alone. Despite numerous awareness campaigns, educated and financially literate individuals continue to fall victim to well-crafted scams that employ impersonation, forged legal threats, and emotional coercion.
The case underscores the growing urgency for stronger cybersecurity awareness and timely reporting to limit financial damage.

Gujarat Doctor Duped of ₹19 Cr in Cyber Scam

Retired 75-year-old doctor defrauded via digital arrest scam posing as officials

Gujarat Doctor Duped of ₹19 Cr in Cyber Scam

Retired 75-year-old doctor defrauded via digital arrest scam posing as officials

July 31, 2025 | 20:42 IST