UTTARAKHAND: Dehradun police have arrested a man accused of planning a online investment scam, revealing a web of fake trusts, forged documents, and international connections that duped victims of more than ₹44 lakh in just three months.
A Crackdown Exposes Elaborate Deception
Investigators in Uttarakhand’s capital arrested Ajay Tripathi on Thursday, unveiling what appears to be one of the region’s more complex cybercrime operations. The accused, police say, created a constellation of fake trusts and companies, then set up multiple bank accounts to launder funds acquired through a wave of targeted online fraud. Raids uncovered a trove of fraudulent documents, including fake Aadhaar and PAN cards, trust deeds, cheque books, and financial stamps—evidence police allege was central to an operation that enabled scams stretching into the crores.
Senior Citizen Targeted in Social Media Scam
The probe began with a complaint from a Dehradun resident who reported falling victim to a scheme promising lucrative stock trading returns. The senior citizen was recruited via a Facebook link into a WhatsApp group, where he was pitched on investments through a mobile app. Seduced by claims of extraordinary returns via IPO and FPO trades, the victim ultimately transferred ₹44.5 lakh over several months to a series of accounts believed to be controlled by the accused. Only after the money disappeared did the elaborate fraud come to light—a pattern that matches broader cybercrime trends targeting India’s older population with digital sophistication.
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Digital Forensics and Ties to Cross-Border Gangs
Law enforcement relied on digital forensics to piece together the network’s breadth and global connections. Through analysis of phones, bank data, chats, and social media activity, police traced Ajay Tripathi to multiple addresses in Uttar Pradesh and Noida. The investigation found that Tripathi used forged Aadhaar cards to evade detection and frequently changed locations. Telegram chats suggest links to cybercrime organizations operating in Cambodia and Thailand, underlining the international scope of the scam and the challenges Indian authorities face in tracking tech-savvy criminals.
Aftermath: Evidence Seized and Public Warned
Police seized a host of items tied to the alleged operation: forged documents, chequebooks, stamps, mobile phones, multiple SIM cards, trust deeds, and fake IDs. Several names of purported charities and companies now revealed as fronts were also uncovered. In the wake of the arrest, police issued public advisories urging caution against high-return investment offers and suspicious digital platforms, warning that thousands have already fallen prey to similar scams across the country.