Four people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a cyber fraud in which a 62-year-old resident of Greater Noida West was duped of ₹2.126 million on the pretext of clearing outstanding dues for a Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connection. Investigators allege that the accused allowed cybercriminals to use their bank accounts in exchange for commission, enabling the stolen money to be routed through multiple accounts. Police said the investigation is continuing to identify other members of the organised cyber fraud network.
According to police, the incident occurred on March 1, 2026, when the victim received a phone call from an unidentified individual claiming to be a representative of Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL). The caller allegedly warned that the victim’s PNG service would be disconnected unless the pending bill was paid immediately. The victim was then sent a payment link and instructed to complete the transaction by entering his banking details.
Police said the victim trusted the caller, opened the link and entered his bank account information. The fraudsters allegedly gained unauthorised access to his banking account, prematurely broke his fixed deposit and transferred a total of ₹2.126 million through 11 separate financial transactions into different bank accounts.
After reviewing his account, the victim discovered the unauthorised transactions and lodged a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Based on the complaint, a case was registered on March 9 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act for cheating, impersonation and cyber fraud.
During the investigation, the Cyber Crime Branch analysed the flow of funds, banking records and digital evidence to trace the movement of the stolen money. Following nearly three months of investigation, police arrested four accused on Thursday. They have been identified as Sachin (28), Shahnawaz (27), Shivam (22) and Shubham (26).
Preliminary investigation indicates that the accused allegedly provided their bank accounts to cybercriminals in exchange for commissions ranging from 10% to 20%. According to investigators, the money fraudulently obtained from the victim was first transferred into these accounts before being routed further through the financial network. Police are now examining the identities of other individuals who supplied bank accounts and assisted in laundering the proceeds of the fraud.
Investigators are also analysing digital communication records, banking transactions and other electronic evidence to determine the full extent of the network. Officials suspect that multiple individuals may have been involved in obtaining bank accounts, coordinating fund transfers and managing different stages of the cyber fraud operation. Further arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.
Commenting on the case, renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting utility bill payment scams involving electricity, gas, water and telecommunications services. He said genuine service providers do not ask customers to enter sensitive banking information through suspicious links sent via phone calls or messages. He advised citizens to verify any payment demand through the official website, mobile application or customer care number of the concerned utility provider before making payments. He also urged people never to click on unknown links or share banking credentials, OTPs, PINs or passwords with anyone.
Police have appealed to the public to avoid clicking on suspicious links received through calls, SMS or messaging applications for bill payments, KYC updates or financial transactions. Authorities have advised citizens to independently verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent a utility company or financial institution and to immediately report suspected cyber fraud through the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The investigation remains ongoing, and further legal action will be taken based on digital evidence and financial records.
