In a major crackdown on organised cyber crime, Jharkhand Police have arrested six accused allegedly involved in a sophisticated digital fraud network operating out of Deoghar. Investigators claim the gang posed as fake customer care executives, banking representatives and digital payment agents to cheat unsuspecting victims through online scams and fraudulent financial schemes.
According to police officials, the accused used the names of popular platforms such as Flipkart, Amazon, Airtel Payments Bank, Google Pay and PhonePe to gain the trust of victims and obtain sensitive banking and payment-related information. Authorities believe the network had been operating in an organised manner for a considerable period and may have targeted people across multiple regions.
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The operation was conducted under the direction of Superintendent of Police Praveen Pushkar as part of a special cyber enforcement drive. The investigation was supervised by senior police officials after intelligence inputs suggested that a coordinated fraud syndicate was actively exploiting people through fake customer support services and government scheme-related scams.
Based on the information received, police teams carried out raids at multiple locations and arrested Vishu Das, Mithun Kumar Das, Chandan Das, Kailash Das, Kundan Kumar Das and Ajit Kumar Das. During the operation, authorities seized 11 mobile phones, 12 SIM cards and one prohibited SIM card from the accused.
Police officials stated that a preliminary forensic examination of the confiscated devices revealed substantial digital evidence linked to cyber fraud activities. Investigators are now examining call records, banking data, digital wallets and communication trails to determine the full scale of the operation and identify potential links to other cyber crime networks.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly contacted victims while posing as customer care executives from Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm. They reportedly lured individuals with cashback offers, account updates, KYC verification requests and reward point schemes. Once victims engaged with them, the fraudsters allegedly manipulated them into sharing banking details, OTPs and payment credentials.
Police sources said the gang also used PhonePe gift cards as part of the fraud mechanism. Victims were allegedly persuaded to generate or share digital gift card details, which were later redeemed through the syndicate’s network to siphon off money from bank accounts.
Investigators further revealed that the accused allegedly impersonated officials from Airtel Payments Bank and used the Airtel Thanks application to target users. Victims were reportedly informed that their cards or accounts had been blocked or deactivated and were instructed to follow certain procedures to reactivate services. During this process, the accused allegedly obtained banking access and sensitive financial information, which was then used to carry out fraudulent transactions.
The investigation has also uncovered alleged misuse of government welfare schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana. Police claim the gang targeted rural and economically vulnerable individuals by promising loan approvals, subsidy benefits and financial assistance under government programmes. Victims were allegedly asked to pay registration fees, processing charges and verification costs before being cheated.
Police records indicate that some of the arrested accused, including Vishu Das, Mithun Kumar Das and Chandan Das, had allegedly been linked to previous cyber crime cases. Investigators suspect the group may be part of a larger organised cyber fraud ecosystem operating in the region.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said cyber criminals are increasingly exploiting the credibility of trusted companies, digital payment platforms and government schemes to execute social engineering attacks. He warned that fake customer care calls, cashback offers, KYC updates and financial assistance schemes have become some of the most common methods used by fraudsters to deceive people.
Police have urged citizens not to trust unknown calls, suspicious links, QR codes or unofficial customer care numbers. Officials reiterated that banks, UPI platforms and government agencies never ask users to share OTPs, PINs or passwords over phone calls.
Authorities have advised victims of cyber fraud to immediately report incidents through the national cyber helpline 1930 or the official cyber crime reporting portal. Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the digital and financial trail connected to the accused and believe further arrests and major disclosures may emerge in the coming days.
