Muzaffarnagar (UP): Police in Muzaffarnagar have uncovered an interstate cyber fraud network allegedly involved in duping victims of more than ₹85 crore across the country. Acting on nearly 70 complaints received from different states, the district police and cyber crime team arrested six members of the racket, while two accused remain absconding. A coordinated search operation is underway to trace them.
The crackdown was initiated after multiple victims registered complaints on the Union Home Ministry’s online cybercrime monitoring portal, ‘Pratibimb’. Officials said technical scrutiny of the mobile numbers, IP addresses and bank accounts cited in the complaints pointed to suspicious activity concentrated in Muzaffarnagar district. Based on digital surveillance and financial trail analysis, police teams carried out targeted raids over the past few days, leading to the arrests.
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Fake travel portal used to trap victims
During the investigation, police discovered that the gang had created a fraudulent website closely resembling that of leading online travel company MakeMyTrip. The accused allegedly designed the portal to appear authentic, complete with booking interfaces and customer support numbers, to gain the trust of unsuspecting users.
Victims were lured with attractive discounts on air tickets and hotel bookings. After initiating a booking, they were asked to complete payments through QR codes shared via messaging platforms. Once the payment was made, the fraudsters either blocked the victim or provided fake booking confirmations. By the time the victims realised they had been duped, the funds had already been transferred across multiple accounts.
Police said a significant portion of the siphoned money was traced to a bank account linked to a resident of Fugaana village in Muzaffarnagar. This financial lead became the turning point in the investigation, helping authorities map the broader network and identify other operatives involved in the racket.
Large cache of devices and bank kits seized
During the raids, police recovered nine mobile phones, 12 ATM cards, 13 SIM cards, two Aadhaar cards, one PAN card, two cheque books, one bank passbook and seven pre-activated bank kits belonging to different banks. Electronic equipment including a keyboard, mouse, Wi-Fi router, monitor, CPU and printer was also seized, along with ₹5,610 in cash.
Investigators believe the gang relied on pre-activated bank kits and rented accounts to rotate funds rapidly, thereby complicating efforts to trace the money trail. The devices seized are being sent for forensic examination to extract transaction details, communication records and other digital evidence.
Bank accounts taken on rent
During preliminary interrogation, the arrested accused allegedly admitted to renting bank accounts, SIM cards and ATM cards from individuals in exchange for commissions. Fraud proceeds transferred by cyber criminals operating from various locations within India — and possibly from abroad — were first routed into these rented accounts.
After retaining a fixed percentage as commission, the accused would transfer the remaining funds to other accounts or withdraw cash using forged signatures and linked ATM cards. Police said the structure allowed the gang to operate as a financial conduit for larger cybercrime syndicates, enabling quick dispersal of funds before victims could initiate recovery proceedings.
Officials revealed that the six arrested accused were directly involved in transactions amounting to around ₹30 lakh over the past two months. So far, nearly 70 complaints associated with frauds totalling over ₹85 crore have surfaced nationwide, with approximately ₹60 lakh confirmed to have passed through the accounts operated by this group. Authorities are examining whether the gang’s role extended beyond facilitating transactions to actively coordinating fraud operations.
Six arrested, two absconding
The arrested accused have been identified as Akshay (Fugaana), Harsh Arya (Sikandarpur), Bhavyansh (Belra), Sachin (Nandgram, Ghaziabad), Harendra (Tuglakpur, Haridwar) and Aryan (Gandhinagar, New Mandi). Two other suspects, Raja and Anurag, are currently on the run.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Aditya Bansal said the operation was conducted under the supervision of senior district officials after technical evidence and banking records established the gang’s involvement. Further investigation is underway to identify additional associates, beneficiaries and possible links to other cyber fraud cases across states.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and initiated legal proceedings against the accused. Authorities have once again advised the public to verify website authenticity before making online payments and to avoid scanning QR codes shared by unknown individuals, warning that fraudsters often exploit the branding of established companies to deceive consumers.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
