90-Year-Old Retired Air Force Doctor Duped of ₹2.5 Crore in ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam in Gwalior

Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh: In a shocking cybercrime incident, 90-year-old retired Air Force doctor Narayan Mahadev fell victim to a “digital arrest” scam, losing ₹2.5 crore from his bank account. The elderly doctor, a resident of Windsor Hill Township in Gwalior, lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police (SP) office on Monday, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.

According to police reports, Mahadev and his wife live alone, while their children reside elsewhere. On January 25, he received a phone call from a person claiming that Mahadev’s documents had been misused in fraudulent activities. The caller intimidated him by citing multiple agencies, creating fear and confusion. Believing the caller’s claims, Mahadev was effectively “digitally arrested” by the criminals, who coerced him into transferring ₹2.5 crore from his accounts over a period of 25 days.

The fraud came to light when the bank manager noticed suspicious transactions and alerted the doctor. Following this, Mahadev approached the SP office to register his complaint.

SP Dharmaveer Singh of Gwalior confirmed the case, saying, “Retired Air Force doctor Narayan Mahadev has been duped through a digital arrest scam involving a large sum of money. Investigation has begun, and we will soon trace and apprehend the culprits.”

This case is part of a worrying trend in Gwalior, where cybercriminals are increasingly targeting elderly individuals. In the past year, similar scams have victimized prominent figures, including officials from Ramakrishna Paramhans Ashram, industrialists, and retired government employees, involving fraudulent transactions worth lakhs to crores of rupees.

Authorities have warned senior citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls immediately, as the city grapples with the rising tide of cybercrime.