A 75-year-old resident of Old Vadaj in Ahmedabad was allegedly duped of ₹5.55 lakh in an “emotional blackmail” cyber fraud after fraudsters posed as distressed callers and manipulated him into authorising multiple online transfers.
Fake Credit Messages and UPI Requests
According to the complaint, Laljibhai Jadav received a phone call on February 10 from a man who identified himself as ‘Mohan’. Speaking in a tearful voice, the caller claimed that a sum of money had been mistakenly transferred to Jadav’s bank account and requested that it be returned urgently. He further stated that his relative ‘Ashish’ would contact Jadav to collect the amount.
Soon after, Jadav received text messages indicating that ₹45,000 and ₹50,500 had been credited to his account. Investigators said these messages were fabricated to create a false impression of incoming funds. A second individual, posing as Ashish, then sent a payment request through Google Pay.
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Victim Authorises Debit Transactions
Believing he was returning money that had been wrongly credited to him, Jadav accepted the payment request and entered his UPI PIN. Instead of receiving funds, the action authorised a debit from his account.
Between February 10 and February 15, multiple transactions were carried out under different pretexts. By the time the series of transfers ended, a total of ₹5,55,976 had been debited from his account, police said.
Bank Statement Reveals Massive Loss
The fraud came to light when Jadav grew suspicious and checked his bank statement. He discovered that no money had been credited, and more than ₹5.5 lakh had been withdrawn. Attempts to contact the callers failed, as their mobile phones had been switched off.
Cyber Police Investigation Launched
A complaint has been registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Ahmedabad. Further investigation is under way to trace the accused and track the flow of funds.
Authorities Issue UPI Safety Warnings
Officials said the case highlights a growing trend in which fraudsters exploit emotions such as fear, sympathy or urgency to manipulate victims. In several recent incidents, cyber criminals have posed as relatives in distress, bank representatives or law enforcement officials to extract sensitive financial information or authorise transactions.
Citizens have been advised not to accept unknown payment requests on UPI applications and never to share or enter their PIN unless they are certain of the transaction’s authenticity. Verifying bank account statements directly through official banking apps or by contacting the bank is recommended before acting on claims of mistaken transfers.
Authorities reiterated that prompt reporting of cyber fraud can improve the chances of blocking transactions and recovering funds. Victims are encouraged to immediately approach the nearest cyber crime police station or use the national cyber crime reporting portal in case of suspicious activity.
With digital payment platforms becoming increasingly widespread, officials cautioned that awareness and vigilance remain the strongest safeguards against such emotionally driven cyber scams.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
