Ahmedabad, December 12 – A Mumbai resident working as a "caller" for an international scam syndicate based in Cambodia has been arrested in connection with the ₹4 crore "digital arrest" fraud targeting an Ahmedabad resident, Gujarat police announced on Thursday.
First Arrest in Gujarat's "Digital Arrest" Scam
According to a senior official from the Gujarat CID's state cybercrime unit, this is the first time an accused linked to the "digital arrest" scam has been apprehended in the state.
The accused, Chetan Kokre (26), reportedly traveled to Cambodia a few months ago and joined a gang operated by Chinese and Cambodian nationals. This syndicate recruited individuals from India, Pakistan, and Nepal, training them to impersonate officials from agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), CBI, police, or customs to extort money under the pretense of a "digital arrest."
Sophisticated Scam Tactics
Officials revealed that the gang coerced unsuspecting victims by claiming that they faced imminent arrest unless they transferred money to clear alleged legal or financial discrepancies.
Police Superintendent (CID Crime) Dharmendra Sharma said, "We received specific information that Kokre had returned to India and was residing in Mumbai. With the assistance of Mumbai Police, we apprehended him from Colaba and brought him to Ahmedabad for further investigation."
The CID cybercrime unit is probing further to identify other members of the syndicate and ensure justice for the victims.
This arrest underscores the growing sophistication of cyber frauds and the importance of international collaboration in tackling such crimes.
