Rs 2.21 Crore 'Digital Arrest' Scam Foiled By Gujarat Bankers, 3 Elderly Men Rescued

Last Updated:December 22, 2025, 17:53 IST

In Ahmedabad, alert bank and mutual fund officials saved three elderly citizens from losing Rs 2.21 crore to digital arrest scams, highlighting rising cybercrime targeting seniors

A 65-year-old resident broke a fixed deposit of Rs 45 lakh and tried to transfer the money to an account in Odisha. (Representational Image)

Elderly citizens across the country are increasingly falling prey to online fraud, with cybercriminals using fear, threats and so-called “digital arrests" to scare victims into parting with their life savings. In Gujarat, however, the presence of mind shown by bank officials and mutual fund professionals helped avert losses worth Rs 2.21 crore, rescuing three senior citizens who were on the verge of transferring large sums to fraudsters.

In all three incidents reported from different parts of Ahmedabad, the victims were so terrified by the scammers that they began distrusting everyone around them, including real police officers. In two cases, the panic escalated to the point where they physically resisted the police, with one even biting an officer while insisting the cops were part of the scam.

What ultimately raised red flags was the same pattern in each case, an urgent demand to withdraw or transfer unusually large amounts of money. This prompted bank and fund managers to alert the police in time.

In the first case, a 71-year-old man from Ghatlodia withdrew Rs 93 lakh from his mutual fund investments and prematurely broke a fixed deposit worth Rs 50 lakh. When he attempted to transfer the amount to a private bank account, mutual fund investor Palak Doshi sensed something amiss and immediately contacted the cybercrime cell. With swift coordination between the bank and the police, Rs 1.43 crore was secured before it could be siphoned off.

The second incident involved a 65-year-old resident of Satellite area who broke a fixed deposit of Rs 45 lakh and tried to transfer the money to an account in Odisha. Bank manager Jayesh Gandhi grew suspicious over the urgency and destination of the transfer, stopped the transaction and called the police, helping the senior citizen break free from the grip of the digital arrest scam.

In the third case, a former coach of the Indian women’s cricket team visited a bank branch in Maninagar to transfer Rs 33.35 lakh. Branch manager Abhishek Singh noticed that she was continuously on a video call while giving instructions. Suspecting fraud, he took custody of her phone and alerted the police. After nearly three hours of counselling, the woman realised she had been manipulated by cybercriminals.

Police officials say such “digital arrest" scams have become alarmingly common, especially among elderly people living alone. They have identified tell-tale signs, including sudden changes in behaviour, self-isolation, persistent anxiety, locking themselves inside rooms, and receiving continuous WhatsApp calls even when regular phone lines appear inactive.

Banks have been instructed to remain on high alert and immediately inform the police if a customer insists on withdrawing all savings or transferring funds to an unfamiliar account. According to the police, public awareness remains the most effective defence against cybercrime, as fear and misinformation continue to be the scammers’ strongest tools.

News india Rs 2.21 Crore 'Digital Arrest' Scam Foiled By Gujarat Bankers, 3 Elderly Men Rescued

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