NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has arrested two men from Jharkhand for allegedly cheating more than 50 people across the country by running a fraudulent credit card verification racket. The accused, identified as 24-year-old Aftab Ansari, a B.Tech graduate, and 23-year-old Abdul Majid, both hailing from Jharkhand’s Jamtara district, allegedly posed as bank representatives to coax cardholders into sharing sensitive card details during video calls. By instructing victims to activate screen-sharing features on their phones, the duo intercepted one-time passwords to conduct unauthorized transactions and purchase high-end electronics online.
Four-Day Operation in Dhanbad Nets Suspects
The investigation began following a formal complaint registered on September 23, where a victim reported being defrauded under the guise of an urgent credit card KYC update. While tracing the fraudulent transactions, cyber investigators identified that an expensive smartphone priced at Rs 1,39,999 had been purchased using the victim’s compromised credentials. Delivery tracking data revealed that the consignment had been shipped to Jharia in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district, providing officers with a concrete physical location.
A team from the Delhi Police initiated a four-day operation in Dhanbad, deploying digital tracking techniques alongside ground-level verification. Investigators coordinated with a local courier delivery person to execute a controlled decoy delivery at an address previously used by the suspects. The maneuver succeeded on Wednesday, resulting in the apprehension of both Ansari and Majid. Police recovered three mobile phones from their possession, containing call records, chat histories, and other digital materials linking them to the alleged financial fraud.
Modus Operandi and Electronic Resale Network
Police inquiries revealed that the syndicate systematically targeted victims over the age of 50. The accused allegedly advertised customer assistance and KYC verification services across social media platforms to gain credibility. Once contacted by prospective victims, the operatives presented themselves as bank representatives handling compliance matters and requested video calls to complete mandatory verification processes.
During these calls, the fraudsters convinced victims to reveal their credit card numbers and security codes while directing them to turn on device screen sharing. This access allowed the accused to view incoming one-time passwords directly on the victims’ screens in real time. The stolen credentials were then utilized to order high-value mobile phones, which were delivered to addresses across Jharkhand and West Bengal before being offloaded in regional markets at discounted rates.
Jamtara Links and Continuing Interrogations
Both suspects are native to Jamtara district, an area long associated with organized telecommunication and cyber scams. Delhi Police investigators are currently analyzing the seized mobile devices to map the full network of associates involved in advertising the fraudulent services and collecting physical deliveries. Inquiries are also focused on identifying additional bank accounts, evaluating the total volume of compromised credit cards, and assessing whether individuals in other states were targeted through identical methods.
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