A 90-year-old man in Surat, Gujarat, fell victim to a digital fraud where scammers posing as CBI officers cheated him of ₹1.15 crore. The fraudsters used a fake concept called "digital arrest" to trap the elderly man, claiming drugs were linked to his name.
How the scam unfolded
The senior citizen, a stock market trader, received a WhatsApp call from a scammer pretending to be a CBI officer. They falsely accused him of being involved in money laundering and claimed that 400 grams of drugs were couriered from Mumbai to China under his name.
To intimidate him, the conmen said his family could face legal action unless he cooperated. They placed him under "digital arrest" for 15 days, interrogated him about his bank transactions, and siphoned ₹1.15 crore from his account.
Investigation and arrests
The victim's family reported the fraud to Surat Cyber Cell on October 29. Five suspects were arrested for their role in the racket, which was linked to a gang in China. However, the alleged mastermind, Parth Gopani, remains at large and is believed to be hiding in Cambodia.
Police recovered 46 debit cards, 23 cheque books, rubber stamps, a vehicle, nine mobile phones, and 28 SIM cards from the arrested suspects: Ramesh Surana, Umesh Jinjala, Naresh Surana, Rajesh Deora, and Gaurang Rakholiya.
Experts clarified that "digital arrest" is a tactic used to create fear and extort money. Advocate Pawan Duggal explained it as a cybercrime scam where victims are tricked into paying large sums under false threats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also warned against such scams during his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, stating there is no legal provision for "digital arrest" in India. The Centre has issued advisories cautioning citizens about such frauds, which have caused significant financial losses.
Nationwide digital arrest cases rising
The Surat digital arrest case highlights a growing trend of digital fraud in banking. Police continue their search for the mastermind as digital arrest frauds become a rising concern across India.
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