Noida. Noida Phase 1 police have busted an alleged cyber fraud racket operating through fake KYC verification calls, malicious mobile applications and credit card reward-point traps, arresting two men accused of illegally accessing bank card details and carrying out fraudulent transactions. Police said the accused used fake APK files resembling banking apps to obtain sensitive financial information and make online purchases.
Fake Calls and Malicious Apps Used to Target Victims
According to officials, the racket functioned in the manner of a structured call centre-based operation. Victims were contacted under the pretext of completing KYC verification or redeeming credit card reward points and were then allegedly persuaded to download fake Android application package files.
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Once installed, the applications reportedly gave the fraudsters access to sensitive details, including credit card numbers, CVV information and one-time passwords. Police said these details were then used to conduct unauthorized purchases.
Investigators said the accused targeted customers of multiple banks by impersonating customer care executives and credit card department officials. They allegedly used urgency and trust-building tactics, telling victims that their accounts required immediate verification to avoid blockage or penalties.
Gold and Silver Coins Bought With Stolen Card Details
Police identified the arrested accused as Vikas Kumar, 31, a resident of Hapur district living in Ghaziabad, and Suraj, 20, from Hathras, currently residing in Delhi’s New Ashok Nagar area. Both were arrested from a premises in Sector 2, Noida, after a tip-off about suspicious cyber activity.
After obtaining card credentials through fake apps, the accused allegedly used the details to make high-value purchases, including gold and silver coins from quick-commerce platforms. The items were reportedly delivered to random addresses and later resold through offline channels to convert them into cash.
Authorities recovered multiple mobile phones allegedly used in the crime, along with several gold coins believed to have been purchased through fraudulent transactions. Police said these recoveries may help trace the money trail and identify other beneficiaries.
Probe Points to Wider Cyber Fraud Network
Officials said the accused frequently discarded SIM cards and changed digital identities to avoid detection. Initial findings suggest the racket may have links to larger inter-state cyber fraud networks involved in similar APK-based scams.
More than 20 complaints related to similar fraudulent activity have already been registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal from different parts of the country, indicating a wider pattern of coordinated cybercrime operations.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly claimed they were working on a commission basis with entities involved in sourcing customer data. Investigators are now examining financial trails, mobile records and transaction histories to identify other members of the network.
Police said the case remains under investigation, with efforts focused on tracing the broader network, identifying financial beneficiaries and mapping the digital transaction routes allegedly used to launder the proceeds. Further arrests are expected as the probe expands across multiple states.
