In Rajkot, Gujarat, a retired woman endured a 10-day ‘digital arrest’ orchestrated by imposters claiming to be CBI officers, resulting in the loss of Rs 78 lakh from her savings. The fraudsters applied intense psychological tactics, leading to an ongoing probe by the local cyber crime unit that spans multiple states.
The incident started with a phone call from someone pretending to represent a telecommunications firm. The caller claimed a SIM card linked to her was involved in spreading inappropriate material, prompting a supposed complaint in Mumbai.
The matter was then handed over to a fabricated CBI official called ‘Vijay Patil,’ who appeared on a video call in a police outfit. To intensify the fear, the perpetrators linked her to a major money laundering and cyber terrorism probe, warning of severe penalties like a decade in jail or a life sentence. They even simulated a courtroom with an impersonator acting as a judge to confirm the allegations.
Over the 10 days, the woman was required to stay visible on camera around the clock under the guise of ‘digital arrest.’ The scammers pressured her to cash out her fixed deposits and other funds, moving Rs 78 lakh to various accounts. The scheme came to light only after she sought financial help from relatives, having depleted her resources.
Early police findings indicate the stolen money was funneled into intermediary accounts in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Officers have blocked four such accounts and are tracing the associated phone numbers.
In another case, 60-year-old Hitesh Dholakia, a former district panchayat employee, was swindled out of Rs 5.66 lakh through a phishing ploy.
An individual posing as an Axis Bank staff member reached out to Dholakia, citing the need for KYC updates. He was convinced to install an APK file sent via WhatsApp, enabling the attackers to remotely control his phone. They then tampered with his banking application to siphon money in several transfers.
The Rajkot cyber crime team has logged both incidents and advised the public that official bodies like the CBI or police do not perform ‘digital arrests’ through video conferences or demand payments to resolve legal issues. They also cautioned against installing APK files from unverified sources, as these can provide hackers with complete device access.
