In a significant breakthrough against organised cybercrime, police in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district have uncovered a multi-state cyber fraud syndicate and arrested five accused allegedly involved in online financial scams spanning 35 states. Investigators estimate that the group defrauded victims of more than ₹1.07 crore through coordinated digital fraud operations.
The operation was carried out by the Kapilvastu police as part of a special drive against cyber offences. According to officials, the network was identified following an in-depth analysis of complaints recorded on the Sammanvay portal since June 2024. Digital transaction trails, suspicious account activity and technical intelligence inputs led investigators to the accused.
Use of mule accounts to conceal money trail
Police investigations revealed that the accused systematically routed fraud proceeds through mule bank accounts to mask the origin of funds. Once laundered, the money was allegedly used for personal expenses and to purchase high-value items. Officers said that mobile phones, a motorcycle and a car seized during the operation were bought using the cheated money.
During the arrests, police recovered ₹98,200 in cash, seven mobile phones, one motorcycle and one car from the accused. All seized devices have been sent for digital forensic examination to identify additional links in the network and track the wider flow of illicit funds.
Arrested accused and legal proceedings
The five arrested individuals have been identified as Shehzad Khan, Ashish Kumar Mishra, Parvez, Abdul Ahad and Mohammad Wasim. Police said cases have been registered against them at Kapilvastu police station under relevant provisions of law. After completing preliminary legal formalities, the accused were produced before a court.
Sources said that during initial questioning, the accused admitted to targeting victims across multiple states through online financial fraud. Investigators are now probing whether the gang has links with other inter-state or international cybercrime networks, and whether additional accomplices are still at large.
Operation conducted on SP’s instructions
The crackdown was carried out under the directions of Superintendent of Police Dr Abhishek Mahajan, who said that rising cybercrime cases have prompted the district police to adopt a data-driven and technology-focused approach. Inputs from the Sammanvay portal, he said, are being continuously analysed to flag suspicious transactions and identify repeat patterns of fraud.
Dr Mahajan described the arrests as a major success in the ongoing campaign against cybercriminals, adding that law enforcement agencies would continue to take strict and sustained action against organised digital fraud rackets.
Growing concern over organised cybercrime
Cybercrime experts note that the use of mule accounts has become a standard tactic for fraudsters seeking to evade detection. By rapidly moving money across multiple accounts, criminals attempt to break the transaction trail, complicating investigations. In such cases, digital evidence, coordination with banks and inter-state cooperation play a crucial role in dismantling organised networks.
Police have urged citizens to remain vigilant against suspicious calls, links and online investment offers. Any suspected fraud should be reported immediately to the cybercrime helpline or the nearest police station. The Siddharthnagar operation once again underscores that technology-led policing, public awareness and timely reporting are key to combating organised cyber fraud.
