Ahmedabad. A 23-year-old woman has alleged that she and her family were defrauded of ₹12.27 lakh after two men allegedly lured them into a work-from-home scheme promising commissions on personal loans, credit cards, EMI purchases and electronic goods. The accused allegedly initially paid commissions and instalments to build the family’s confidence before stopping payments, leaving the family with substantial financial liabilities. Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police have launched an investigation based on the complaint.
The complainant, Diya Shaileshbhai Patel, works as an apprentice at a bank in Bapunagar. According to her complaint, she uploaded her resume on a job portal while looking for employment. A man identifying himself as Jay allegedly contacted her and claimed to have obtained her details from the portal. He allegedly offered her work-from-home employment without requiring any initial investment.
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The complaint states that Jay subsequently sent her WhatsApp messages showing commissions for arranging EMI cards, personal loans, credit cards and utility bill payments. He later allegedly visited her home and identified himself as Ashok Viramgama. He reportedly told the family that his real name was Ashok but that he was commonly known as Jay.
According to the complaint, Ashok claimed to be associated with Sarvodaya Sahakari Mandali and told the family that the organisation needed electronic goods. He allegedly offered to arrange purchases through personal loans, credit cards and financing schemes in the names of family members in return for commissions ranging from 10% to 30%. He also allegedly assured them that he or the organisation would pay the resulting EMIs.
The complaint alleges that Ashok initially arranged an electronic purchase through a financing scheme in the name of Diya’s father, Shaileshbhai. He allegedly took possession of the item and subsequently paid the instalments as well as the promised commission. Ashok later introduced Rajan Mehta as his colleague, saying Rajan could assist the family whenever he was unavailable.
Over the following months, Diya and her family members allegedly purchased several mobile phones, air-conditioners and other electronic goods through personal loans, credit cards and EMI schemes. The complaint alleges that the goods or loan proceeds were handed over to Ashok and Rajan. The two men allegedly continued paying commissions and instalments initially, further strengthening the family’s confidence in the arrangement.
Diya also alleged that Ashok persuaded her to create fixed deposits and obtain credit cards against them. She claimed that he subsequently gained access to the cards and their PINs and carried out transactions without her permission. The complaint also mentions digital payments made to Ashok and additional loans and EMI purchases allegedly arranged in the names of family members.
The family’s financial liabilities allegedly increased after the accused stopped paying instalments around May or June 2026. The complaint refers to outstanding loans and EMI purchases involving mobile phones, an air-conditioner and other goods. In one transaction, a Samsung S25 Ultra worth around ₹1.30 lakh was allegedly purchased through a personal credit facility, with nearly ₹1 lakh remaining outstanding.
Diya has put the total financial liability arising from the transactions at ₹12.27 lakh. Of this, ₹5.76 lakh allegedly relates to transactions involving two fixed-deposit-backed credit cards, while another ₹5.86 lakh concerns loans, advances, EMI purchases and goods obtained in the names of family members.
As the family began receiving notices over unpaid instalments, Ashok allegedly assured them that payments owed by the organisation were pending and would be used to clear the liabilities. In June 2026, he allegedly provided a security cheque for ₹4 lakh and asked the family to deposit it the following month. The family meanwhile paid some instalments themselves, according to the complaint.
The situation changed after Ashok and Rajan allegedly stopped responding to the family’s calls and messages. Diya later told police that she learnt the two men may have been using a similar work-from-home arrangement with other people in Gujarat. The complaint alleges that the men initially paid commissions and EMIs to gain victims’ confidence before persuading them to take larger loans or purchase expensive goods, after which the payments were allegedly stopped.
Diya also alleged that Ashok had falsely claimed to be associated with Sarvodaya Sahakari Mandali. She and other affected persons subsequently approached the Gujarat Home Department with their grievances, while a complaint was also submitted to the Cyber Crime Police.
The Cyber Crime unit of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has registered a case and begun an investigation. Police are examining WhatsApp conversations, photographs, loan documents and financial transaction records submitted by the complainant. Investigators are also tracing digital-payment and bank-account transactions and examining whether Ashok and Rajan were allegedly involved in similar cases.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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