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The Rampur cyber crime police have arrested another suspect involved in an organized racket that allegedly used forged identity credentials and biometrics to open fraudulent bank accounts for routing cyber fraud money. The arrested man, identified as Virendra, a resident of Tanda Mirnagar in the Baheri police station area of Bareilly district, allegedly used the SIM card of a local villager to generate fake agent and Business Correspondent IDs for NSDL Payments Bank. Investigators revealed that he collaborated with previously arrested co-accused Ajay Kumar to open bank accounts for around 75 unsuspecting citizens, subsequently channeling and withdrawing over 50 lakh rupees in cybercrime proceeds through automated teller machines. Four individuals, including the Branch Postmaster of Kira post office, were earlier arrested in connection with the fraudulent operation.
Biometrics Taken During Enrolment Misused to Open Accounts
According to cyber police station in-charge Sanjay Kumar, the syndicate targeted rural residents who visited local centers to enrol for or update their identification cards. Operators allegedly prompted applicants to place their thumbs on biometric scanners a second time under the pretext of official procedures. Instead of updating records, the accused utilized the captured biometric data to establish accounts with NSDL Payments Bank without the applicants’ knowledge or consent. Police recovered a Vivo mobile phone from Virendra’s possession, which was allegedly used to manage the illicit IDs and handle communications related to the fraudulent activities.
Maharashtra Police Notice Uncovered Fraud Syndicate
The operation came to light following a complaint filed by Madhu, a resident of Pasiyapura Janubi under the Civil Lines area. She had visited the local panchayat ghar to apply for an identity card for her child, where Manish and Ajay, who worked at the Kira village post office, captured her photographs and finger impressions. Unbeknownst to her, the duo opened an NSDL Payments Bank account in her name using her credentials. Her ordeal began after Nizampura police station in Thane district, Maharashtra, served her a notice regarding a digital arrest cybercrime case, stating that 1.70 lakh rupees had been deposited into an account registered under her name. Realizing her biometric records had been exploited, she lodged a formal petition with the Rampur Superintendent of Police, leading to the registration of a First Information Report at the cyber crime police station.
Over 50 Lakh Rupee Cybercrime Proceeds Withdrawn via ATMs
Subsequent police investigations revealed that the fake agent credentials created by Virendra were used to open roughly 75 accounts. Across these accounts, transactions exceeding 50 lakh rupees linked directly to various cyber offences were processed, with the accumulated amounts swiftly withdrawn through automated teller machines. Investigators are currently scrutinizing the account statements to ascertain the full extent of the fraudulent operations, determine the specific cyber fraud cases tied to the transferred funds, and identify additional accomplices involved in the wider interstate network.
