₹8 crore ‘digital arrest’ scam: Three arrested for duping 88-year-old doctor

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested three people in connection with a scam that allegedly duped an 88-year-old doctor of nearly ₹8 crore. Investigators say the fraud involved a gang operating from Cambodia.

Despite repeated awareness drives by cybercrime authorities warning citizens against fraudsters impersonating officials of agencies such as the CBI and ED, many continue to fall prey to such schemes.

Doctor duped through WhatsApp video call

The victim, who runs a clinic near Parimal Garden in Paldi, received a WhatsApp video call on July 28 from an unknown number. The screen displayed “Mumbai Crime Branch.” The caller claimed to be an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer investigating the Jet Airways money laundering case linked to Naresh Goyal.

The scammer told the doctor that ₹5 lakh had been deposited in his name in a Canara Bank account in Mumbai, making him an accused in the case. When the doctor said he didn’t have an account with the bank, the fraudster showed him a debit card with his name on it.

He was then threatened with arrest and told he could be held in custody for 40 days. The caller added that he was accused of an “anti-national crime” and was under “digital arrest,” instructing him not to tell anyone about the matter.

Nearly ₹8 crore transferred under pressure

Under the constant threat, the doctor shared details of his investments, including shares worth almost ₹8 crore. The fraudster instructed him to liquidate all his holdings and transfer the money into new accounts, claiming that the Reserve Bank of India needed to verify the funds as legitimate income.

Over the next two days, the doctor sold his entire demat portfolio and transferred around ₹8 crore to multiple accounts. Only later did he realise he had been scammed and approached the Crime Branch.

Three arrests, investigations continue

Joint Commissioner of Police Sharad Singhal immediately launched a probe and set up multiple teams. Based on technical analysis, police arrested:

Parish Parihar, resident of Umang Lambha-1 Apartment, Aslali Road, Narol

Maheeth Shah, resident of Lathi, Amreli

Vikas Singh, resident of New Padmavati Society, Vasai, Maharashtra

During questioning, the accused revealed that a gang based in Jharkhand and Cambodia was also involved. Police are continuing investigations to track other members of the network.