Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch arrests a fraudster posing as a physiotherapist to scam elderly citizens after an alert from Bank of Baroda staff.
Background and Timeline: The Cyber Crime Branch of the Ahmedabad City Police dismantled a heartless scam targeting elderly residents following proactive intervention from the banking sector. The case came to light in mid-January 2026 after officials at a Bank of Baroda branch noticed suspicious withdrawal patterns from a senior citizen’s account. This discovery followed specific recent instructions issued to bank nodal officers to monitor for unusual financial activity among the vulnerable elderly population.
Modus Operandi: The scammer impersonated a professional physiotherapist to gain the trust of elderly persons who lived alone or suffered from mobility-related health issues. Under the pretext of providing home-based treatment, the accused would conduct surveillance on his victims, even following them to banks to monitor their transactions. He would then extract large sums of money by manipulating the victims into withdrawing significant portions of their fixed deposits under various false pretenses.
Victims and Financial Impact: The primary victims were senior citizens targeted for their relative isolation and health vulnerabilities, often being duped out of their entire life savings. In the case that led to the bust, the victim had been induced to withdraw unusually large amounts of money from their fixed deposits over two consecutive days. The accused allegedly confessed to being part of an organized gang that systematically targeted the elderly to siphon their savings through personalized social engineering.
Investigation and Agencies Involved: The investigation was conducted by a specialized team from the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch led by Police Inspector JP Thakor. After being alerted by the Drive-In Road branch of Bank of Baroda, the team analyzed CCTV footage which captured the suspect conducting surveillance on the elderly customer. This collaboration between the banking sector and the cyber police is being hailed as a successful implementation of real-time fraud detection protocols.
Arrests and Suspects: One suspect was detained and subsequently arrested after confessing to his role in the “fake physiotherapist” racket operating in Ahmedabad. During questioning, he revealed details about his gang’s broader operations and the specific tactics used to identify and prey on isolated elderly residents. Authorities are now working to identify and apprehend his accomplices who provided logistical support for the physical surveillance and financial extortion operations.
Broader Implications and Trends: This case highlights a shift toward “physical-digital hybrid scams” where fraudsters use legitimate-looking professional identities to bypass the typical caution of elderly victims. It demonstrates the effectiveness of the “early warning system” where bank staff are trained to recognize signs of digital arrest or organized extortion patterns. Police have issued a fresh advisory to senior citizens to verify the credentials of any healthcare provider offering home services.