The Cyber Crime Branch of the Ahmedabad City Police has arrested a man for allegedly defrauding elderly citizens by impersonating a physiotherapist and charging exorbitant amounts for bogus home-based medical treatment.
According to officials, the arrest followed strict instructions issued to bank nodal officers to alert the cybercrime team whenever senior citizens were found withdrawing unusually large sums of money under suspicious circumstances. The move aims to curb organised fraud targeting vulnerable elderly individuals.
The case surfaced after staff at the Bank of Baroda’s Drive-In Road branch noticed a senior citizen withdrawing large amounts from fixed deposits over two consecutive days. Suspecting a possible case of organised fraud or “digital arrest,” bank officials immediately informed the Cyber Crime Branch.
A police team led by Inspector J. P. Thakor reached the bank and reviewed CCTV footage, which showed a man closely monitoring the elderly customer. The suspect was detained at the bank premises and, during questioning, allegedly admitted to being part of a gang that targeted senior citizens living alone or suffering from mobility issues.
Investigators revealed that the accused would identify vulnerable elderly individuals in public places, gain their trust by citing false medical references, and then pose as a physiotherapist offering treatment at home. During these visits, the impostor allegedly administered injections and falsely claimed to extract “impure blood,” charging approximately Rs7,000 per injection without providing any medical documentation or prescriptions.
Police stated that the gang kept close watch on victims during bank visits. After the victims returned home, large sums of cash were allegedly collected. In the present case, the accused reportedly took Rs4 lakh from the victim, while an additional Rs2.7 lakh withdrawn from the bank was recovered before it could be handed over.
The arrested individual has been identified as Mohammad Amjad, son of Mohammad Mehmood, a resident of Anta in Baran district, Rajasthan. Legal action has been initiated against him, and further investigations are underway to trace other members of the gang.
Police have advised senior citizens and their families to remain alert, verify the credentials of medical professionals offering home services, and report suspicious financial activity. Banks have also been urged to continue promptly flagging unusual transactions involving elderly customers.
