A 75-year-old couple in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district narrowly escaped falling victim to a digital arrest scam. The cyber fraudsters, posing as Mumbai Police officers, falsely implicated the couple in a financial fraud case. The scammers kept the couple under a “digital arrest” for three days through continuous video calls, demanding money to clear their names from the fabricated case.
The fraudsters instructed the elderly couple to convert 25 tolas of gold into gold biscuits and break a fixed deposit of Rs two lakh to make the payment. Fortunately, an observant bank employee at Axis Bank sensed something amiss when the distressed couple visited the branch to arrange the funds. The employee promptly alerted the Sabarkantha Cyber Crime Police, who intervened in time to prevent the scam.
The cyber crime team counseled the couple, informing them of the fraud attempt and safeguarding them from losing their money and gold. This incident sheds light on the rising concern surrounding “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters use false criminal allegations to extort money from victims. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has directed the police to offer swift assistance to individuals vulnerable to cyber fraud, emphasizing the importance of public vigilance.
Police caution against trusting calls from impersonators claiming to be law enforcement or government officials, urging citizens to report such incidents to the Cyber Crime Helpline or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
