In Etawah, police have arrested a man allegedly involved in a large-scale online gaming and betting fraud linked to the ‘Big Daddy’ app. The accused, who once ran a small momo and fast food cart, is accused of duping youths through social media platforms by promoting fake investment and gaming schemes. Investigation has revealed that he accumulated assets worth nearly ₹1 crore, including luxury vehicles, a motorcycle, and a house.
According to police findings, the accused used to run a street food stall and would allegedly lure customers even while serving momos, convincing them to join the online gaming platform. He reportedly portrayed himself as a successful online gamer, claiming he had earned lakhs through the app and encouraging others to invest small amounts to become rich quickly.
Officials said the investigation began after an online complaint was received from Rohtak, Haryana. Following this, the cyber crime unit launched a detailed probe and identified several suspects, including the main accused, Shivam Kushwaha, a resident of the Mandi Faatak area. He was operating the food stall along with his brother while simultaneously running a coordinated online network through social media.
FCRF Academy Launches Premier Anti-Money Laundering Certification Program
Promotion Tactics on Instagram and Telegram
The probe revealed that the accused was actively promoting the ‘Big Daddy’ app on Instagram and Telegram. He used edited videos, fabricated winning screenshots, and false profit claims to mislead users. Initially, some victims were shown small profits to build trust, but later most of them ended up losing their entire investments.
In return for bringing in new users and investors, the accused reportedly earned hefty commissions. Within a few years, he managed to build significant wealth through this fraudulent network. Investigators found that he purchased a car worth around ₹22 lakh in his brother’s name, constructed a house costing nearly ₹50 lakh, and also bought a luxury motorcycle valued at around ₹22 lakh.
Officials estimate that the accused generated close to ₹1 crore through illegal means, which was spent on a lavish lifestyle. Police believe this case may not be an isolated incident and could be part of a larger organized online gaming and fraud network.
In the case, cyber crime police had already registered an FIR on March 13 against Shivam Kushwaha and nine others under relevant IT and online gaming laws. The accused was later arrested after coordinated surveillance and a planned operation.
Confession and Role as App Agent
During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to his involvement. He stated that he worked as an agent for a company operating the ‘Big Daddy’ app, where his role was to recruit users and encourage investments in exchange for commission payments.
Police are now conducting a deeper investigation to trace other individuals linked to the network and determine the scale of the fraud. Authorities are also trying to identify how many victims were affected and the total financial losses caused by the scheme.
Following the exposure of the case, concerns have grown over the rising trend of online gaming-based scams targeting young users through social media. Police have urged the public to avoid investing in unverified online gaming or betting platforms, warning that such schemes are increasingly being used to trap people and siphon off their hard-earned money.
