Digital Arrest Scam:
The ‘Digital Arrest’ method of fraud has been making headlines over the past few days, prompting efforts by the administration to raise awareness about it. Amid this, a shocking incident has surfaced where a 90-year-old man in Gujarat was robbed of ₹1 crore, a sum he had saved through a lifetime of hard work, via ‘digital arrest’ fraud. The fraudster impersonated a CBI officer and kept the elderly man under ‘digital arrest’ for 15 days.
According to the victim, the fraudsters initially claimed that narcotics were found in a courier sent in his name from Mumbai to China.
The Gujarat Crime Branch has revealed that the fraud was orchestrated by a racket connected to a Chinese gang, and five people have been arrested in connection with the case. However, the mastermind, Partha Gopani, is still at large and is suspected to be in Cambodia.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhavesh Rozia shared that the elderly victim, an investor in the stock market, had received a WhatsApp call from one of the accused posing as a CBI officer. The caller falsely alleged that 400 grams of MD drugs were found in a courier sent in the victim’s name and that his bank account was linked to money laundering activities. The fraudster further threatened the man, claiming that both he and his family could be arrested.
For 15 days, the accused kept the elderly man under ‘digital arrest’ under the pretense of interrogation, during which they questioned him about his bank transactions. Eventually, the fraudsters transferred ₹1.15 crore from the victim’s bank account.
The victim’s family, upon learning of the incident, lodged a complaint with the Surat Cyber Cell on October 20. Following the complaint, five individuals were arrested, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the mastermind, Partha Gopani. A sketch of Gopani has also been released by the police.
The police have seized 46 debit cards from various banks, 23 checkbooks, one vehicle, four rubber stamps belonging to different companies, nine mobile phones, and 28 SIM cards from the arrested suspects. The accused have been identified as Ramesh Surana, Umesh Jinjala, Naresh Surana, Rajesh Deora, and Gaurang Rakholia.
