Surat, September 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
An 82-year-old man who spent several decades in the United States before returning to Gujarat for his retirement has allegedly lost Rs 2.96 crore to cyber criminals who frightened him into believing that he was under investigation by Mumbai Police in a massive money laundering case.
The fraud continued for nearly two weeks before the victim, Prabhubhai Patel of Bardoli in Surat district, discussed the matter with his sons living in the US. His family immediately suspected a scam and advised him to contact the police.
By then, Patel had allegedly transferred Rs 2.96 crore to bank accounts specified by the fraudsters.
Police have registered a case against unidentified persons and are attempting to identify those behind the operation with assistance from cybercrime investigators.
WhatsApp Message Starts the Trap
The sequence began on August 8 when Patel received a WhatsApp message carrying a reference to “Mumbai Police headquarters”. A telephone call followed from the same number.
According to the complaint, a woman claiming to be a Mumbai Police officer told Patel that his Aadhaar credentials had been misused to open a bank account.
She then allegedly claimed that the account was linked to money laundering transactions worth Rs 122 crore.
The accusation was followed by threats. Patel was allegedly informed that he had been placed under “digital arrest” and warned that the authorities were keeping watch over both his house and his family. The callers also threatened to freeze his bank accounts if he did not cooperate.
Another person later entered the conversation, allegedly posing as a senior Mumbai Police officer.
Patel was asked to arrange money as part of the purported investigation and was assured that the amount would eventually be returned to him.
Rs 2.96 Crore Paid Between August 11 and 21
Believing the threats to be genuine, Patel allegedly began transferring money on August 11.
Over the next 11 days, he sent a cumulative Rs 2.96 crore to different accounts provided by the callers.
The payments continued until August 21.
It was only on August 31, when Patel narrated the developments to his sons in the United States, that the deception was detected. His family recognised the warning signs of a cyber scam and asked him to report the matter to the authorities.
Police Follow the Money Trail
Bardoli Police thereafter registered an offence against unidentified accused.
Police Inspector V.A. Sengal said cybercrime teams were assisting the investigation as efforts continued to identify and apprehend those responsible.
A key part of the probe is now centred on the accounts that received Patel’s money. Investigators are seeking to establish who controlled those accounts and how the funds were dispersed after each transfer.
The electronic communications used to contact Patel are also being examined for clues that could lead investigators to the people operating the scam.
Police are additionally looking into how the perpetrators acquired enough personal information about Patel to make their claims appear credible and whether the same network has used a similar method against other people.
Returned to India After Decades in US
Patel had moved to the United States in 1980 and lived in Mississippi.
Following his retirement, he and his wife Damyanti returned to Bardoli in 2007. Their three children continue to live in the United States.
The case adds to instances of so-called “digital arrest” fraud in which criminals impersonate police or other government officials, accuse victims of involvement in serious offences and use fear of arrest or prosecution to pressure them into transferring money.
FOLLOW NOW
