Jaipur: Cyber Crime Police have dismantled an interstate fraud syndicate and arrested 17 accused in connection with a ₹5.30 crore financial scam allegedly executed through WhatsApp impersonation.
Complaint Filed Through National Helpline
The case originated from a complaint lodged on April 24, 2026, through the national cyber helpline 1930 by Dipendra Singh, an accountant at a private company. According to the complaint, Singh received messages from an unknown WhatsApp number that displayed the name and photograph of the company’s chairman.
Acting on urgent instructions conveyed through the messages, he transferred ₹5.30 crore into two bank accounts. The fraud came to light shortly afterward.
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Money Routed Through Accounts, Crypto and Hawala
According to Deputy Inspector General (Cyber Crime) Shantanu Kumar Singh, a technical investigation found that the defrauded funds were routed through multiple bank accounts and later siphoned off through cash withdrawals, cryptocurrency transactions in USDT, and hawala channels.
Coordinated operations involving district police units from Kota Rural, Pali, Jodhpur, Banswara and Barmer led to the arrest of 17 individuals. The accused include account providers, cash handlers, intermediaries and operatives involved in converting funds into cryptocurrency.
Police said the network operated through a structured chain spread across districts. Bank accounts were allegedly procured or opened using associates and acquaintances in exchange for commissions ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹50,000. Funds were quickly withdrawn or converted into USDT to obscure the financial trail, while hawala channels were also used to transfer and conceal proceeds of crime.
District-Wise Network Under Police Scrutiny
Members of the network allegedly coordinated activities through informal meetings at tea stalls and roadside locations to avoid detection. Police said Kota had emerged as a hub for cash withdrawals and crypto conversions, involving salon workers, a law student and a trader who facilitated transactions.
Banswara was identified as a network for procuring and supplying bank accounts and transporting funds. Pali saw recruitment of account holders through personal networks, while Jodhpur handled account operations and cryptocurrency transactions. Barmer was used to provide bank accounts for illicit use.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime) Sumit Mehrda and led on the ground by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sugan Singh. Teams combined technical analysis with field intelligence to identify, trace and apprehend the accused across multiple districts.
The Cyber Crime Branch has urged citizens to exercise caution while responding to financial requests received through WhatsApp, phone calls or other digital platforms, even when they appear to come from known individuals. It advised people to verify authenticity through direct communication before transferring funds and to contact the national helpline 1930 or report incidents on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal in case of cyber fraud.
