NRI kept under digital arrest in Australia, robbed of Rs 48 lakh
There has been a recent surge in digital frauds targeting NRIs, and in this case, a young man based in Sydney received a WhatsApp call from an Indian number in August last year from callers impersonating law enforcement officials.
A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) from Ahmedabad, currently residing in Australia, was allegedly defrauded of Rs 48 lakh in an elaborate digital arrest scam. The case is now under investigation by the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Department, officials said.
The fraud came to light after the young man’s father, who lives in Ahmedabad, noticed unauthorised withdrawals from his son’s bank accounts and filed a complaint with the cyber crime authorities.
Officials said there has been a recent surge in digital frauds targeting NRIs through intimidation and impersonation of law enforcement agencies.
In the present case, a young man, based in Sydney, received a WhatsApp call on August 26, 2025, from an Indian number.
The caller posed as an officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch and threatened him, claiming that suspicious transactions worth crores of rupees linked to “anti-national activities” had been carried out using his mobile number and bank account.
To intensify the pressure, the fraudsters placed the victim under constant video surveillance. “He was ordered to remain in front of the camera, not to meet or speak to anyone.”
He was also warned that failure to comply would result in arrest by Australian police and detention at the airport if he returned to India.
The prolonged intimidation caused severe mental distress. To retain control, the criminals instructed him to purchase a new mobile phone and SIM card, after which they obtained the IP addresses of his devices and remotely accessed his phone and laptop.
Under the guise of an investigation, the fraudsters extracted sensitive banking details. They withdrew AUD 25,000 (around Rs 14 lakh) from his Australian bank account.
The scam later extended to India, where the perpetrators broke his fixed deposit at an Axis Bank branch in Naranpura, Ahmedabad, and transferred Rs 34 lakh to their account.
Throughout the ordeal, the accused reassured the victim that the money would be returned.
“The cyber criminals assured the young man that the entire amount would be returned after the investigation was completed, but in reality, it was a major fraud.”
After being kept in isolation and surveillance for nearly a month, the victim realised he had been deceived and lodged a complaint with the Australian Cyber Security Department.
Around the same time, his father discovered the missing fixed deposit and approached the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch.
Authorities in both India and Australia have initiated investigations into the cross-border fraud.
Officials have urged the public, especially NRIs, to remain alert against unsolicited calls claiming to be from law enforcement agencies and to verify credentials before sharing personal or banking information.
A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) from Ahmedabad, currently residing in Australia, was allegedly defrauded of Rs 48 lakh in an elaborate digital arrest scam. The case is now under investigation by the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Department, officials said.
The fraud came to light after the young man’s father, who lives in Ahmedabad, noticed unauthorised withdrawals from his son’s bank accounts and filed a complaint with the cyber crime authorities.
Officials said there has been a recent surge in digital frauds targeting NRIs through intimidation and impersonation of law enforcement agencies.
In the present case, a young man, based in Sydney, received a WhatsApp call on August 26, 2025, from an Indian number.
The caller posed as an officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch and threatened him, claiming that suspicious transactions worth crores of rupees linked to “anti-national activities” had been carried out using his mobile number and bank account.
To intensify the pressure, the fraudsters placed the victim under constant video surveillance. “He was ordered to remain in front of the camera, not to meet or speak to anyone.”
He was also warned that failure to comply would result in arrest by Australian police and detention at the airport if he returned to India.
The prolonged intimidation caused severe mental distress. To retain control, the criminals instructed him to purchase a new mobile phone and SIM card, after which they obtained the IP addresses of his devices and remotely accessed his phone and laptop.
Under the guise of an investigation, the fraudsters extracted sensitive banking details. They withdrew AUD 25,000 (around Rs 14 lakh) from his Australian bank account.
The scam later extended to India, where the perpetrators broke his fixed deposit at an Axis Bank branch in Naranpura, Ahmedabad, and transferred Rs 34 lakh to their account.
Throughout the ordeal, the accused reassured the victim that the money would be returned.
“The cyber criminals assured the young man that the entire amount would be returned after the investigation was completed, but in reality, it was a major fraud.”
After being kept in isolation and surveillance for nearly a month, the victim realised he had been deceived and lodged a complaint with the Australian Cyber Security Department.
Around the same time, his father discovered the missing fixed deposit and approached the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch.
Authorities in both India and Australia have initiated investigations into the cross-border fraud.
Officials have urged the public, especially NRIs, to remain alert against unsolicited calls claiming to be from law enforcement agencies and to verify credentials before sharing personal or banking information.