Azamgarh: In a major crackdown on cyber crime, authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh district have exposed a large-scale fraud racket involving ₹110 crore, leading to the arrest of 17 accused. The gang allegedly used the PM Kisan scheme app as a tool to trap victims and siphon off large sums of money. A significant quantity of electronic devices, mobile phones, ATM cards, and SIM cards were recovered from the accused.
The initial operation on December 8 led to the arrest of 15 individuals. Authorities seized 23 mobile phones, 14 ATM cards, 15 SIM cards, and other electronic devices from their possession. Two vehicles used in the operation were also confiscated. The following day, two more accused were apprehended, taking the total to 17. Based on administrative recommendations, action under the Gangster Act has been initiated against all the accused.
Investigations revealed that the gang was being remotely operated by handlers based in China and Dubai. These international links played a key role in expanding the scale of the fraud. A district-wide crackdown on such cyber criminals is currently underway. The cyber cell team involved in the operation has also been awarded ₹25,000 for their efforts.
FutureCrime Summit 2026: Registrations to Open Soon for India’s Biggest Cybercrime Conference
Victims lured through Instagram and commission offers
The racket relied heavily on social media platforms to execute the fraud. Investigators found that the accused used an Instagram ID numbered 9334 to lure individuals by offering commissions in exchange for providing bank accounts, ATM cards, and SIM cards. Through this method, sensitive banking details and registered mobile numbers were obtained from unsuspecting account holders.
The gang also circulated specially designed APK files via WhatsApp, falsely claiming them to be linked to the PM Kisan scheme. Once downloaded, these files compromised the victim’s mobile device, giving the fraudsters access to banking credentials. Funds were then transferred from victims’ accounts into multiple current accounts and later withdrawn through ATMs across different states to evade detection.
Preliminary findings indicate links to 121 bank accounts. Out of these, 31 accounts are already associated with 186 cases registered in regions such as Nainital, Rudrapur, and Andhra Pradesh. During interrogation, the accused admitted to using third-party bank accounts to carry out transactions, making it difficult for authorities to trace their identities.
List of arrested accused
The 17 arrested individuals have been identified as Sultan Ansari, Parvez Ansari, Mohammad Kaleem, Imran Ali, Ankit Kumar, Sarfaraz, Aadesh Singh, Aman Pratap Nishad, Amit Singh, Atul Singh, Vinayak Malviya, Arjun Singh, Atul Anand, Pankaj Pandey, Abhinav alias Monu Chaurasiya, Chandrabhushan Singh, and Brijesh Kumar.
Further investigation underway
Authorities are now expanding the probe to identify other members of the network and establish deeper international links. Detailed forensic analysis of seized mobile phones, SIM cards, and banking data is ongoing to uncover the full extent of the operation. Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said,
“In such cases, cyber criminals rely heavily on social engineering and fake applications to gain the trust of users. APK files circulated via WhatsApp and social media platforms have emerged as one of the biggest threats, allowing direct access to users’ devices and banking data.”
He also advised the public to avoid downloading apps or clicking on links from unknown sources and to never share banking details with anyone.
