Elderly Man Falls Victim to ₹9 Crore Digital Scam Involving Four Women
Massive Digital Fraud Targeting an 80-Year-Old
An 80-year-old man has been swindled out of ₹9 crore by four women in what is being described as one of the largest digital fraud cases in the country. Following the revelation of this scam, the elderly man's health has deteriorated, leading to hospitalization. The ordeal began in April 2023 when he befriended a woman named Sharavi on Facebook. Their conversations quickly escalated, and after exchanging WhatsApp numbers, they communicated frequently. Sharavi claimed to be separated from her husband and living with her children, often requesting financial help for their illnesses.
While this was ongoing, another woman named Kavita reached out to the elderly man via WhatsApp. She mentioned her friendship with Sharavi and expressed her desire to befriend him as well. Kavita also sent provocative messages and solicited money under the pretext of her children's health issues. The situation escalated further in December 2023 when a woman named Dinaz contacted him from an international number, claiming to be Sharavi's sister and stating that Sharavi had passed away, needing funds for her hospital expenses.
When the elderly man asked for his money back, Dinaz threatened him, saying she would harm herself and that he would be implicated. She even shared WhatsApp screenshots of conversations between Sharavi and the elderly man to manipulate him further. Despite giving away ₹8.7 crore, the women's demands continued. Eventually, the elderly man borrowed ₹2 lakh from his daughter-in-law to send to them.
The situation came to light when he requested ₹5 lakh from his son, who questioned the need for such a large sum. Upon hearing his father's story, the son realized that his father had been scammed. The fraud persisted for nearly two years, from April 2023 to January 2025, involving 734 transactions. The elderly man’s health has since declined, with doctors diagnosing him with dementia.