The Uttarakhand Special Task Force has arrested a 21 year old man from Noida for his alleged role in a cyber fraud in which a Dehradun resident was cheated of Rs 25.9 lakh through a fake insurance revival scheme targeting dormant policyholders.
Victim Was Lured Through Promise of Reviving Lapsed Policies
The accused has been identified as Suraj, a resident of Sector 31, Nithari, Noida. He was arrested after an investigation into a multi lakh rupee fraud reported at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Dehradun. The probe began after a resident of Patel Nagar filed a formal complaint.
According to the complaint, the victim held three PNB MetLife insurance policies that had remained inactive for the past two years because premium payments had not been made. In October 2025, the victim received a call from a person posing as an official of the insurance company.
The caller assured the victim that the lapsed policies could be revived and offered attractive returns. The victim was then connected to another person who posed as a head clerk. According to the STF, the fraudsters exploited the victim’s vulnerability and persuaded him to deposit money into various bank accounts on the pretext of reviving the policies.
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Fraud Came to Light After Verification With Official Customer Care
Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh of the STF said the victim realised the entire arrangement was fabricated only after contacting the official customer care service of the insurance company. By then, he had allegedly been defrauded of Rs 25,90,000.
Following the complaint, the Cyber Crime Police registered a case under Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
Given the seriousness of the offence, the STF launched a technical operation to trace the digital footprint of those involved. Investigators examined bank account details, mobile numbers and WhatsApp communication metadata received from service providers and Meta. On that basis, Suraj was identified as a key player in the operation.
Accounts Scrutinised as Probe Expands
According to SSP Singh, Suraj admitted during interrogation that he and his associates systematically targeted people with lapsed policies. He said the accused acted as a money mule, providing his bank accounts to hold the proceeds of the cybercrime in return for a commission.
The investigation has also uncovered broader financial activity linked to the accused. While the complainant in this case was allegedly cheated of Rs 25.9 lakh, scrutiny of Suraj’s bank accounts showed transactions amounting to Rs 42 lakh over a span of a few months.
Authorities have already frozen Rs 20 lakh directly linked to the case. The STF is now coordinating with police departments in neighbouring states to trace the remaining members of the gang.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
