One WhatsApp Call, 45 Days Of Fear: Gujarat Couple Duped Of Rs 88 Lakh In Cyber Scam

Last Updated:August 26, 2025, 14:59 IST

Dinesh Dalwadiya and his wife in Rajkot lost over Rs 88 lakh to cyber fraudsters posing as Delhi Crime Branch.

Fraudsters trapped the retired court clerk in a digital arrest scam and cheated him of over Rs 88 lakh. (Representative image: AI-generated)

In Rajkot, a retired 69-year-old court clerk, Dinesh Dalwadiya, and his wife became victims of a shocking cyber fraud that cost them over Rs 88 lakh. The fraudsters posed as Delhi Crime Branch officers and claimed Dalwadiya was linked to a money laundering and drug case. They threatened to arrest him unless he cooperated. Over 45 days, the couple was virtually “digitally arrested," constantly monitored through WhatsApp calls and messages.

The scammers convinced Dalwadiya to transfer money into different accounts for “verification." He even mortgaged the gold kept in his locker to arrange funds. Altogether, Rs 88,50,020 was siphoned off.

Rajkot cybercrime police acted swiftly and arrested three accused—Brijesh Patel, Mohsin Sheikh, and Mohammad Halari—all residents of Bhavnagar. Investigations revealed Patel had opened a current account in IDBI Bank that had already been flagged in 12 other cyber fraud complaints across India. He had received at least Rs 10 lakh from Dalwadiya’s funds and admitted to renting out his account for commission. Sheikh and Halari worked as commission agents for the racket.

The fraud began on July 8, when Dalwadiya received a WhatsApp call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be from the Delhi Crime Branch and alleged his bank manager had named him as a beneficiary in illegal transactions. To build pressure, they even shared photos of supposed arrested criminals and warned him not to tell anyone.

Terrified, Dalwadiya kept following their instructions, believing he was proving his innocence. Finally, after nearly two months of harassment, the scam came to light when he filed a complaint on August 24, 2025.

Police have booked the accused under multiple sections of the BNS and IT Act. The investigation is still underway to trace the masterminds behind the racket.

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August 26, 2025, 14:59 IST

News india One WhatsApp Call, 45 Days Of Fear: Gujarat Couple Duped Of Rs 88 Lakh In Cyber Scam