Gujrat. A retired man from Vadodara in Gujarat has been cheated of ₹1.47 crore in a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam that unfolded over 18 days, during which cyber fraudsters posed as officials from multiple law enforcement and regulatory agencies, including the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), police, and even members of the judiciary.
TRAI Call Started Scam
According to a complaint lodged with the Vadodara Cyber Crime Police Station, the victim, who retired from a private company in 2024, first received a call on March 10 from an unknown number. The caller falsely identified himself as a TRAI official and alleged that a mobile number registered in the victim’s name using his Aadhaar credentials was being used for illegal advertisements and objectionable messages.
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The initial call soon escalated into a coordinated psychological trap. The victim was subsequently connected to an individual claiming to be from the Mumbai Crime Branch, who further intensified the allegations. Shortly after, he received a WhatsApp video call from a person posing as a CBI officer, who claimed that a bank account had been opened using his identity and was involved in laundering funds worth ₹538 crore.
Victim Kept Under Pressure
The fraudsters allegedly created an atmosphere of fear and urgency, telling the elderly man that he was under “digital arrest” and must cooperate with an ongoing investigation. Over the following days, multiple individuals posing as law enforcement officers, judges, and lawyers continued communicating with him, keeping him isolated and under constant psychological pressure.
Investigators said the scammers used a carefully structured web of deception, repeatedly switching identities and agencies to make the narrative appear authentic. The victim was made to believe that he was under legal surveillance and that any failure to comply could result in immediate arrest or severe legal consequences.
The prolonged manipulation continued for nearly three weeks, during which the fraudsters allegedly coerced the victim into transferring a total of ₹1.47 crore in multiple transactions. The money was siphoned off under the pretext of “verification”, “legal clearance”, and “account protection procedures”, which the scammers falsely claimed were part of an official investigation process.
Daughter Alerts Authorities
The case came to light only after the victim confided in his daughter, who immediately alerted authorities. Following this disclosure, a formal complaint was registered, and cybercrime investigators began tracing the digital trail of the transactions and communication channels used by the accused.
Officials from the cyber crime unit stated that the fraudsters used advanced social engineering techniques, exploiting fear, authority impersonation, and digital communication platforms such as WhatsApp to maintain control over the victim. The use of video calls and official-sounding designations added a layer of credibility that made the scam more convincing.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the network behind the scam may be part of a larger interstate or international cybercrime syndicate involved in similar “digital arrest” fraud cases targeting senior citizens and retired individuals.
Mule Accounts Being Traced
Cybercrime experts note that such scams rely heavily on psychological coercion rather than technical hacking. Victims are often kept under continuous surveillance-like communication, preventing them from seeking external advice or verifying claims.
Authorities have reiterated that no government agency in India conducts investigations or arrests through video calls or demands money for “verification” purposes. Citizens have been advised to immediately disconnect such calls and report them to cybercrime helplines.
The Vadodara Cyber Crime Police are currently analysing call records, bank transactions, and digital footprints linked to the case. Efforts are also underway to identify the mule accounts through which the stolen funds were routed.
Officials confirmed that multiple layers of digital tracing are being used to track the accused, and further arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.
The incident highlights the growing threat of “digital arrest” scams, which have been increasingly reported across India in recent months, particularly targeting elderly individuals with limited awareness of cyber fraud tactics.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify any claims of legal action directly through official government channels rather than responding to unsolicited calls or messages.
As the investigation continues, police have assured that all efforts are being made to recover the defrauded amount and dismantle the network behind the elaborate cyber fraud operation.
