Senior Ahmedabad citizen duped of ₹15 lakh in ‘digital arrest’ scam

A 67-year-old retired resident of the city lost ₹15.2 lakh after falling victim to a meticulously executed cyber-fraud in which impostors posing as senior Mumbai Police and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers threatened him with arrest, accused him of funding terrorism, and coerced him into transferring money for so-called ‘verification’.

According to the FIR lodged at the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police Station, the complainant, Nareshbhai Shah, a retired professional living with his wife in the New Gunjan locality, was targeted between November 28 and December 2 through a series of phone calls, WhatsApp video calls, and fabricated documents allegedly bearing ED and Supreme Court insignia.

Fraudsters posed as IPS officers and ED officials

The complaint states that Nareshbhai received the first call shortly after midnight on November 28 from a man identifying himself as ‘Sandeep Roy, IPS, Bombay Police’. He claimed that Shah’s Aadhaar number had surfaced during a “raid on an Islamic organisation” in Bengal, and that it had been used for money laundering, terror financing and illegal activities.

To gain credibility, the accused allegedly appeared in police uniform during a WhatsApp video call, demanded live photos of the complainant and his wife, and forwarded images of Aadhaar cards, ATM cards and fabricated FIR documents purportedly recovered from a suspect named Abdul Rahim.

As the complainant became increasingly alarmed, he was introduced over WhatsApp to another man, identifying himself as ‘Pradeep Jaiswal, Crime Branch Mumbai’. The duo allegedly shared forged documents bearing the ED logo, claimed involvement of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and threatened imminent arrest unless the complainant cooperated.

‘Digital arrest’ and coercion through fake Supreme Court orders

The complainant told police that the fraudsters repeatedly ordered him and his wife to send selfies every two hours to “confirm live presence”, warning them not to inform anyone.

They also forwarded a fake document purportedly issued by the Supreme Court of India and signed by a “Secretary, Government of India”, alleging terror-funding links and directing the complainant to “comply with conditions of investigation”.

During subsequent calls, the accused extracted the complainant's bank details, property information, and personal data, including that of his family. They then informed him that, as per a “Supreme Court order”, he must transfer all his money for verification to determine whether it was “white or black”. If the funds were legitimate, they claimed, they would be returned.

Under pressure, the complainant made two RTGS transfers:

₹8.50 lakh on 1 December from his wife’s account 

₹6,70 lakh on 2 December from his account

The fraudsters issued fabricated “Government of India – Enforcement Directorate receipts” carrying barcode numbers and references to the Supreme Court to convince the complainant that the money had been deposited with investigating agencies.

Complainant alerted police after cyber helpline guidance

The complainant eventually became suspicious when the accused asked him to transfer his funds, allegedly “locked under a senior citizen scheme,” to a different account. On the advice of a family friend, he contacted the 1930 Cyber Crime Helpline on 2 December and filed an online complaint.

Police have registered the case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating, impersonation, criminal intimidation, conspiracy and forgery, along with provisions of the cybercrime law. Efforts are underway to trace the phone numbers, bank accounts and individuals behind the fraud.