A multi-state cyber fraud syndicate operating under the guise of a charitable religious entity has been busted following the arrest of three persons in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. Investigators revealed that the accused set up an entity named Satya Sanatan Trust and defrauded citizens across eight states of nearly Rs 11 crore over a nine-month span between February and October. A total of Rs 2.37 crore from the fraudulent proceeds was credited directly to the trust’s bank account in Renukoot, while the remainder was routed through multiple allied accounts. The operation came under scrutiny after alerts were generated on the national cybercrime reporting portal regarding sudden high-value deposits, with 35 cases registered across Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. Karnataka accounted for the highest number of complaints, with 11 cases linked to the syndicate.
Network Operated from Rewa Hotel Room to Evade Scrutiny
To evade law enforcement while maintaining a registered address in Sonbhadra, the suspects partnered with an organisation based in Madhya Pradesh and conducted day-to-day operations out of a rented hotel room in Rewa. The room was used periodically as a operational base to coordinate OTP-based cyber fraud across different states. Preliminary inquiries indicate that the three arrested suspects began committing cyber frauds roughly two years ago. They initially spent six months learning fraudulent methods while affiliated with a foundation in Patna. Following that period, they collaborated with another organisation registered under a religious title in Varanasi. After generating substantial earnings within a short timeframe, the accused decided early this year to float their own independent setup under the name Satya Sanatan.
Social Causes and Religious Identity Used as Cover
The syndicate strategically adopted a religious and social profile to win public confidence, using welfare initiatives centered around education, healthcare, and cow protection as a facade to mislead targets. Several people were appointed as formal office-bearers of the trust, while others served as operational confidants. The accused also enlisted multiple women into the gang to assist in convincing victims. Before establishing the Satya Sanatan Trust, the accused had initially floated an organisation under a religious name registered at an address in Churk. They subsequently expanded their reach by partnering with the Madhya Pradesh-based group and establishing the makeshift office in Rewa, which allowed them to coordinate transactions across state borders without drawing local attention to their permanent base.
Police Scan Mule Accounts and Inter-State Institutional Links
The diversion of Rs 2.37 crore into the Renukoot bank account of Satya Sanatan Trust led cyber authorities to red-flag the network, prompting a wider tracing of the remaining funds. Sonbhadra Superintendent of Police Abhishek Verma said investigators have identified 35 cases registered across eight states so far. He confirmed that while Rs 2.37 crore entered the trust’s account, the remaining amount was moved through various other bank accounts. Police suspect that several affiliated entities and their associated accounts were used as mule accounts to distribute and siphon off the defrauded funds nationwide. Multiple teams have been deployed to trace and apprehend other identified suspects, while investigators continue to verify the role of additional institutions linked to the syndicate.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
