For cybercrooks seeking prey, age doesn’t matter; four Ahmedabad victims aged from 29 to 80 years ensnared

Ahmedabad: Cybercrooks are targeting most areas of transactions that people depend on to make their lives easier. From purchasing insurance to shopping, and from credit card applications to supposed refunds, every aspect of digital life is a hunting ground for cybercriminals. And they are indifferent to the ages of their prey. On Friday, an 80-year-old retiree from Ranip lodged a complaint with cybercrime police, alleging that criminals posing as insurance agents duped him of Rs 36.9 lakh. He was told he could get his insurance payout released before the maturity date.In 2023, one Kaushal Shah persuaded him to buy multiple life insurance policies for himself and his wife. The premiums were deducted for two years, the FIR stated. In March 2024, when the victim was in the US, he got a WhatsApp call, from one Manish Mishra, who promised Rs 44.14 lakh in 45 days if the complainant followed certain procedures. A third man, called Tanmay Gupta, asked for payments through cheques and RTGS transfers. Over time, the victim and his relatives transferred Rs 36.92 lakh but never got any payout.In a similar shocking case, a 79-year-old from the Sabarmati area lost Rs 30 lakh. He filed a complaint on Friday. According to the FIR, the complainant had bought an insurance policy in 2001, which matured in 2013. In July 2024, he received a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to be a senior official of a nationalised bank and shared an ID card, assuring him that his matured insurance amount of over Rs 33 lakh was pending for release. The fraudsters also sent several fake letters purportedly from the Reserve Bank of India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, and the ministry of finance, claiming that the funds could be released only after payment of charges. The victim transferred multiple amounts through RTGS between July 2024 and Aug 2025 to more than 30 bank accounts. Even younger citizens, more well-versed with the perils of the internet, are being caught with their guard down. A 30-year-old IT company manager from Ranip was allegedly duped of Rs 12.71 lakh by fraudsters who lured him into completing "online tasks" and investing in cryptocurrency. Between April 9 and 11, he was added to Telegram groups where fraudsters demanded deposits, and did not allow withdrawals citing technical issues, data errors, and unpaid fees. The man transferred Rs 12.71 lakh in multiple transactions from his and his grandmother's bank accounts. Soonhe realised he had been scammed. A 29-year-old man from Gomtipur was duped of Rs 2.46 lakh by fraudsters posing as officials from a private bank's credit card department. The complainant stated in his FIR filed on Thursday that he received a call from two unknown numbers on May 15, informing him that the bank had launched a new app and asked him to update it through a link they sent. Within minutes of clicking on the link, several unauthorised transactions totalling Rs 2,46,349 were made from his credit card through a digital payment service within a shopping app on his phone, the FIR alleges.