90-year-old retired Air Force doctor in Gwalior loses Rs 2.5 cr in 25-day ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud
The incident began on January 25 when the elderly doctor received a phone call from a man claiming to be linked to an investigating agency
PTC Web Desk: A 90-year-old retired Indian Air Force doctor in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior has allegedly been defrauded of nearly Rs 2.5 crore after cyber criminals kept him under what the police described as a prolonged “digital arrest” for almost 25 days.
According to the complaint filed with the police, the incident began on January 25 when the elderly doctor received a phone call from a man claiming to be linked to an investigating agency. The caller alleged that the doctor’s identity documents had been misused in a serious financial crime and warned him of imminent arrest and legal proceedings.
Posing as officials conducting an “online surveillance” process, the fraudsters reportedly maintained constant contact with the victim through video calls and repeated instructions. He was allegedly told that the matter was confidential and that disclosing any details to family members could worsen his legal troubles. Investigators believe this tactic was used to isolate him and prevent outside intervention.
Over the following weeks, the accused are said to have exerted sustained psychological pressure, convincing the doctor that he was part of an official probe. During this period, he transferred large sums of money in multiple transactions to different bank accounts specified by the callers. In total, nearly Rs 2.5 crore was siphoned off over 25 days.
The fraud surfaced only after bank officials noticed unusually high-value transactions from his account. When questioned by the branch manager about the nature of the transfers, the doctor reportedly explained the circumstances and then realised he had been duped.
He subsequently approached the office of the Superintendent of Police in Gwalior and lodged a formal complaint.
Superintendent of Police Dharamveer Singh confirmed that the victim had received a call on January 25 from individuals who invoked the names of various agencies to intimidate him. “The caller claimed that his documents were linked to a major fraud case and pressured him into transferring money. The complaint was filed after the bank flagged suspicious transactions and the victim understood that he had been cheated,” the SP said.
The police have registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the accused and recover the funds. Officials have once again urged citizens, particularly senior citizens, to verify the credentials of callers claiming to represent law enforcement agencies and to report suspicious communication immediately.