Gujarat teacher held under digital arrest for 28 days, duped of nearly Rs 1 crore

A 65-year-old retired school teacher from Gujarat’s Gandhinagar was allegedly held under a prolonged “digital arrest” for nearly a month and duped of Rs 99 lakh by cyber fraudsters posing as central investigation officials, police said.

The case, now under investigation by the Gandhinagar Range Cyber Crime Police, highlights the growing sophistication of online scams despite repeated public awareness campaigns by authorities against such fraud.

According to the complaint, the woman, a resident of Sector 8 in Gandhinagar, received a phone call on January 16 from an unknown number claiming that a SIM card issued in her name was being used for illegal activities and threat calls.

Soon after, she was contacted via video call by a man identifying himself as “Ajay Gupta”, who allegedly posed as a CBI officer. The caller claimed that her bank accounts were linked to a money laundering investigation involving an accused individual and warned her of imminent arrest.

Police said the fraudsters also impersonated officials from the Department of Telecommunications to reinforce the threat.

FAKE COURT DOCUMENTS USED TO ‘DIGITALLY ARREST’ VICTIM

To make the claims appear genuine, the accused allegedly sent forged documents through WhatsApp, including fabricated orders bearing the name of the Supreme Court of India, arrest warrants and purported records from the Mumbai Crime Branch.

Investigators said the woman was then placed under constant surveillance by the fraudsters, who instructed her not to contact anyone and compelled her to send periodic messages confirming her whereabouts — effectively keeping her under what cybercrime officials describe as a “digital arrest” for 28 days.

Rs 99 LAKH TRANSFERRED UNDER INTIMIDATION

Under the pretext of verifying her finances and clearing her name, the scammers allegedly pressured the victim into transferring funds from her State Bank of India and post office accounts to multiple bank accounts through RTGS transactions between February 5 and February 13.

Police said the retired teacher transferred a total of Rs 99 lakh during this period, fearing legal action.

When the promised verification process concluded without her money being returned, she realised she had been defrauded and contacted the national cybercrime helpline 1930.

A formal complaint has since been registered at the Gandhinagar Range Cyber Crime Police Station, and efforts are underway to trace the accused and recover the funds.

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