How Was an Interstate Cyber Fraud Gang Busted in Delhi?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Interstate cyber fraud networks are increasingly targeting victims online.
- Social media platforms are commonly used to lure individuals into scams.
- Victims should report suspicious activities promptly to aid investigations.
- Authorities are actively working to dismantle such fraudulent operations.
- Awareness and education are crucial in preventing cyber fraud.
New Delhi, July 22 (NationPress) In a significant operation, the Cyber Police Station of North District, Delhi, has dismantled an interstate syndicate of cyber fraudsters that deceived victims through fraudulent investment schemes on social media platforms.
Authorities have apprehended seven suspects from various regions of Uttar Pradesh related to this case.
This gang exploited platforms like Instagram and Telegram, luring victims with promises of “100 percent guaranteed” returns on their investments. A woman from Farashkhana, Delhi, became a victim of this scam, transferring Rs 1.23 lakh across several bank accounts under the pretext of account verification, GST fees, and corrections. Upon realizing she had been scammed, she reported the incident, initiating an investigation.
A specialized team led by SI Tasveer Mathur, with supervision from Insp. Rohit Gahlot and ACP Hemant Mishra, traced the funds to various mule accounts. The first suspect arrested, Anshuman Nath (23), a B.Tech student from Ghaziabad, was pivotal in exposing the racket. He had provided his Kotak Bank account to Dhruv Aggarwal (21), a middleman from Kasganj, for a commission.
Subsequent inquiries and raids in Ghaziabad and Kasganj resulted in the capture of the primary operator, Yatharth Bansal (22), along with his associates - Gaurav Verma (22), Adesh Kumar (24), Rahul alias Hardev (23), and Kuldeep (22) - who functioned as “cash mules”; they withdrew funds using various ATM cards and delivered the money to Yatharth.
“The accused formed a sophisticated cyber fraud network whereby mule accounts were established or arranged by individuals like Anshuman Nath, who transferred these accounts to middlemen such as Dhruv Aggarwal. These accounts were utilized to collect money scammed from victims through online channels like Telegram and Instagram,” stated DCP Raja Banthia.
From the arrested individuals, authorities recovered Rs 1.39 lakh in cash, 11 mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, 9 ATM cards, and one SBI passbook.
The gang employed encrypted applications, fictitious identities, and multiple SIMs to avoid detection. Law enforcement confirmed that all arrested parties have admitted to their involvement.
Investigations are ongoing to identify more mule accounts and additional victims.