Cyber Crime Cell arrests Ahmedabad man linked to ‘digital arrest’ scam of ₹18 crore

The Cyber Centre of Excellence, Gandhinagar, has arrested another alleged member of a nationwide cyber fraud syndicate that duped victims by ‘digitally arresting’ them through WhatsApp video calls, impersonating officials from agencies such as TRAI and the police, and extorting large sums of money.

The arrested accused has been identified as Ashok Kumar Narshibhai Sankhla, a resident of Ahmedabad. Officials said he was apprehended following a detailed investigation into a series of cyber fraud complaints registered across multiple states.

According to the police, the gang contacted victims through WhatsApp video calls and regular phone calls, falsely identifying themselves as Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officials and police officers. Victims were told that their mobile numbers would be disconnected within hours as they had allegedly been used for criminal activities linked to their Aadhaar cards.

The callers further claimed that FIRs had been registered against the victims and that investigations had been ordered by the Supreme Court, involving agencies such as the CBI, ED, FEMA, RBI, SEBI and RAW. Victims were instructed not to leave their homes or speak to anyone, and were threatened with life imprisonment and danger to their lives.

Using fear and intimidation, the syndicate allegedly extorted money from victims, illegally depositing a total of ₹11.42 crore into various bank accounts.

Use of charity trust accounts

Investigators revealed that the accused, in collusion with previously arrested gang members, opened bank accounts in the name of a charitable organisation, 'Vishwa Global Charity Trust'. The account details were shared with associates in Mumbai and subsequently used by the cyber syndicate to route fraud proceeds.

In return, the accused allegedly received commissions through USDT cryptocurrency wallets, police said.

Multi-state cyber fraud trail

A review of the trust’s bank accounts on the 1930 cybercrime portal and the coordination portal revealed that 11 cybercrime cases had been registered across the country. These included complaints from Mumbai City (Maharashtra), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), and Telangana, among others.

Police estimate that the total fraud amount linked to these cases stands at ₹18.55 crore, of which ₹3.15 crore was routed through bank accounts linked to the present accused via associates in Mumbai.

During the arrest, police seized one mobile phone from the accused, which is being examined for digital evidence. Further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the syndicate and trace the money trail.

Police reiterated that there is no legal concept of ‘digital arrest’, and warned citizens not to share personal or financial information with callers claiming to be from government agencies.

People have also been cautioned against clicking suspicious links, especially APK files, and against investing in social media advertisements promising quick returns. Citizens are advised to enable two-factor authentication on social media accounts.

Victims of cybercrime are urged to immediately contact the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or approach the nearest police station.