Gujarat Cyber Centre of Excellence has dismantled a sophisticated interstate cyber extortion racket that took advantage of people’s privacy and fears of legal action to trick thousands of people across India into buying fake stamina-enhancing new drugs, which was made worse when victims were threatened with fake criminal cases and forced to pay money to escape arrest in a massive anti-corruption police operation.
The operation also led to simultaneous raids at two of the call centres that were operating in Ahmedabad’s Vastral and a third in Bidhuna, Uttar Pradesh. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the racket, including the alleged mastermind, Dhirendra Pratap Singh Rajawat, who is accused of leading the entire operation.
How the Scam Worked
As investigators said, the gang heavily relied on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to attract victims. Advertisements promoted purported Ayurvedic products under fake brand names such as ‘Ashwani Ayurveda’ which promised solutions for male health and stamina-related problems.
As a result, interested users were encouraged to fill out online lead forms and unknowingly give up their phone numbers and addresses to a syndicate. The syndicate then shipped parcels through courier and postal services, making the transactions appear genuine.
However, the fraud really started after the order was placed, he said.
If a customer accepted the package, members of the gang would soon contact them while pretending to be police officers or officials from the District Superintendent's office. The callers falsely claimed that the victim had purchased banned or illegal medicines and that a First Information Report (FIR) had already been registered.
The victims were then threatened with immediate arrest unless they paid money to “settle” the matter.
Different Trap for Customers Who Refused Delivery
The gang also had another strategy for customers who rejected or refused to accept the parcel.
Instead of police officials, the callers introduced themselves as doctors, legal advisers or company representatives. They falsely claimed that rejecting the package had caused financial losses to the company and threatened victims with legal notices and lawsuits.
To avoid these fabricated legal consequences, victims were forced to pay amounts between Rs 2,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
They say fraudsters took advantage of the embarrassment and fear of making sensitive health purchases to make many victims afraid to go to the police.
Thousands of Victims, Crores of Rupees
A forensic examination of computers, mobile phones and digital records seized during the raids revealed the massive scale of the operation.
Investigators estimate that the syndicate may have targeted and defrauded nearly 4,000 to 5,000 people in several states.
And financial analyses revealed that 14 bank accounts were linked to the accused as well, through which fraudulent transactions of Rs. 5 crore were made.
Large Quantity of Digital Evidence Seized
During the raids, police recovered a lot of evidence, including:
- 44 mobile phones
- 23 computers and laptops
- Fake company seals and stamps
- Packaging materials for the purported Ayurvedic medicines
- Digital records containing customer databases and transaction details
The electronic devices are now being examined to identify other victims, financial beneficiaries and possibly links to other cybercrime networks.
Police Issue Public Advisory
After the bust, the Gujarat Cyber Centre of Excellence urged citizens to be cautious in buying healthcare products online, especially with respect to health care products advertised on social media platforms.
Consumers should verify the authenticity of sellers, avoid sharing unnecessary personal information and never transfer money in response to threats from police officers or government officials without proper verification.
At present, citizens who are getting suspicious calls or are being threatened by online extortion are asked to report the problem to the National Cyber Crime Helpline or the official cybercrime reporting portal.
A case like this is just the kind of thing cybercriminals are now doing to target individuals, to gather data on them, to use it as their psychological weapon and to take advantage of consumers. Police say there are more investigations to find the network’s other members and whether there are similar call centres operating elsewhere in the country.
