Surat Cyber Crime Cell arrests Chennai man tied to Chinese gang, ₹33 crore fraud traced
Synopsis
A single manpower supplier from Chennai allegedly sat at the centre of a ₹33-crore cyber-fraud web spanning 14 states — supplying bank accounts to a Dubai-based operative linked to a Chinese gang, running fake trading portals, and simultaneously defrauding over 750 job-seekers through a bogus data-entry scheme backed by a fake app. The Surat Cyber Crime Cell's arrest of Lovely alias Riv Arora lifts the lid on how layered, multi-scheme cyber networks operate across India.
Key Takeaways
Lovely alias Sameer alias Riv Arora , 39, arrested by the Surat Cyber Crime Cell for allegedly supplying bank accounts to a Chinese gang -linked network.
113 complaints across 14 states traced through 34 bank accounts , with total alleged fraud of ₹33,14,76,909 .
Accused allegedly earned a 3.5% commission routing funds to a Dubai-based absconding associate who moved proceeds via USDT cryptocurrency.
A parallel data-entry job fraud allegedly cheated more than 750 people of over ₹35 lakh using data on 33 lakh job-seekers and a fake app called Care Compass .
Seizures include 14 mobile phones , 3 laptops , 4 SIM cards , and 57 SIM-card covers ; four co-accused had been arrested earlier.
Investigation is ongoing; Arora reportedly travelled to Dubai approximately 12 times and previously held Dubai citizenship .
The Surat Cyber Crime Cell has arrested a 39-year-old manpower supplier from Chennai, identified as Lovely alias Sameer alias Riv Arora, for allegedly supplying bank accounts used to channel cyber-fraud proceeds to an absconding associate linked to a Chinese gang. Investigators have traced 113 complaints spanning 14 states and involving alleged fraud of over ₹33.14 crore through 34 bank accounts reportedly connected to him.
How the Fraud Network Operated
The primary case centres on an alleged investment fraud carried out between 14 November 2025 and 10 February 2026. The complainant was reportedly promised high returns through dollar-denominated share-market investments and directed to a fake trading website. After registering on the platform, the complainant transferred ₹1,52,63,198 into multiple bank accounts provided via the website and customer service channels — money that was allegedly never permitted to be withdrawn.
According to investigators, Arora obtained bank accounts from previously arrested individuals by paying a 3% commission on transactions. He then allegedly supplied those accounts at a 3.5% commission to an absconding accused based in Dubai, who was reportedly working with a Chinese gang and moving fraud proceeds through USDT (cryptocurrency). Arora is said to have travelled to Dubai approximately 12 times and had previously held Dubai citizenship, according to police.
Scale of Complaints Across India
A check of the 34 linked accounts on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal surfaced 113 complaints from across 14 states, with total alleged fraud amounting to ₹33,14,76,909. Karnataka recorded the highest count at 34 complaints, followed by Maharashtra with 11, and Gujarat and Tamil Nadu with 10 each. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Bihar, Assam, and Delhi each reported 6 complaints, while Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab had 3 each.
A Parallel Data-Entry Job Fraud
The investigation also uncovered an alleged separate scheme targeting job-seekers. Arora allegedly ran call centres across Mumbai, Indore, Patna, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai, purchasing customer data from platforms including Work India, Apna Job, Job Hai, and Naukri.com at ₹2 to ₹8 per record.
Using data on more than 33 lakh people seeking work-from-home opportunities, telecallers allegedly offered data-entry positions and collected an upfront fee of ₹5,000 per person. After obtaining signatures on purported agreements, the accused allegedly refused refunds by claiming the submitted work failed accuracy standards. More than 750 people were allegedly cheated of over ₹35 lakh through this method. A fake software application called Care Compass was reportedly created for these operations. A laptop seized from Arora contained details of 33,88,646 customers and 266 data-entry job agreements.
Seizures, Legal Sections, and Earlier Arrests
Police seized 14 mobile phones, 3 laptops, 4 SIM cards, and 57 SIM-card covers from the accused. The case has been registered under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008. Arora is also allegedly linked to a separate investment fraud case at the Surat Cyber Crime Police Station involving ₹15,44,104.
Four other accused — Mineshkumar Solanki, Anil Gupta, Vikassinh Bhadoria, and Riyaz alias Shoaib — had been arrested earlier in connection with the same investigation. Further investigation is underway.
Point of View
USDT settlement layers, and Dubai intermediaries to stay several steps removed from the crime. What stands out here is the dual-fraud structure: the same operator allegedly ran a sophisticated investment scam and a low-tech job-fee racket simultaneously, targeting both the affluent and the desperate. India's National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal surfacing 113 complaints across 14 states from just 34 accounts underscores how thin the detection net remains — most victims likely never filed. The real question is whether the Dubai-based and Chinese-linked principals, who remain absconding, will ever face prosecution, or whether only the Indian intermediary tier is ever held accountable.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the Surat Cyber Crime Cell in the Chinese gang case?
The arrested accused is Lovely alias Sameer alias Riv Arora, a 39-year-old manpower supplier from Chennai. He was arrested following a technical investigation into an investment fraud case registered at the Surat Cyber Crime Police Station.
How much money was allegedly defrauded across the 34 bank accounts?
Investigators traced 113 complaints involving alleged fraud totalling ₹33,14,76,909 through 34 bank accounts linked to the accused. The complaints came from across 14 states, with Karnataka recording the highest count at 34.
How was the accused allegedly connected to a Chinese gang?
According to police, Arora allegedly supplied bank accounts at a 3.5% commission to an absconding accused based in Dubai, who was reportedly working with a Chinese gang and moving cyber-fraud proceeds through USDT cryptocurrency. Arora is said to have visited Dubai around 12 times and previously held Dubai citizenship.
What was the data-entry job fraud linked to the accused?
Arora allegedly ran call centres in multiple cities, purchased data on over 33 lakh job-seekers, and collected ₹5,000 upfront from individuals offered work-from-home data-entry jobs. After obtaining signatures on agreements, refunds were allegedly denied — cheating more than 750 people of over ₹35 lakh. A fake app called Care Compass was reportedly used for these operations.
What legal sections have been invoked in the Surat cyber fraud case?
The case is registered under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008. Four co-accused had been arrested previously, and further investigation is underway.
