The Chandigarh Cyber Crime Police have dismantled an interstate cyber fraud network following the arrest of three individuals, including two women, in connection with sophisticated credit card upgrade and limit enhancement scams. Operatives within the syndicate impersonated bank representatives and credit card company executives to trick victims into revealing sensitive banking credentials or clicking phishing links. The arrests were made during coordinated raids conducted across locations in Delhi and Haridwar, bringing the total number of individuals apprehended in connection with the primary investigation to five.
Fake Executive Calls and Phishing Form Mechanisms
The first investigation originates from a complaint filed on December 26, 2025, by a resident of Sector-45, Chandigarh, who reported an unauthorized financial loss of approximately ₹1.73 lakh. According to police records, the complainant received a phone call from an individual posing as an executive from American Express. The caller persuaded the victim that his existing State Bank of India (SBI) credit card was eligible for an immediate limit upgrade and premium tier conversion.
To execute the upgrade process, the fraudster transmitted a malicious Google Form link to the victim via WhatsApp. Once the victim filled out the form and submitted confidential credit card details, the syndicate gained backend access to his account credentials. The perpetrators subsequently initiated unauthorized digital transactions, draining ₹1.73 lakh from the victim’s account.
Following technical analysis, Chandigarh Cyber Crime Police traced the call origin to a illegal call center operating out of a residential property in Delhi. Initial raids conducted in January resulted in the arrest of three women who were actively making telemarketing calls using false identities. On January 22, investigators apprehended 40-year-old Sushil Kaushik in Haridwar, who allegedly facilitated the operation by supplying forged bank accounts, arranging mule accounts, and providing fraudulently registered SIM cards to route illicit capital.
Continued investigation led to the arrest of 43-year-old Ajay Singh, also known as Ajay Singh Maan, a resident of Delhi identified as the primary operator of the illicit call center. During interrogation, Singh reportedly admitted to procuring unauthorized customer databases, acquiring fake SIM cards, and securing mule accounts to launder stolen funds. A local court remanded Singh to two days of police custody to assist investigators in tracing the financial trail and identifying additional co-conspirators.
Second Fraud Scheme and Delhi Call Center Raid
A separate case was registered by Chandigarh Police on June 30 after another victim reported losing ₹1.92 lakh through a similar credit card limit enhancement scheme. In this instance, fraudsters posing as SBI credit card representatives contacted the victim and manipulated him into sharing confidential credentials—including One-Time Passwords (OTPs), Card Verification Value (CVV) numbers, and card expiration details—over the phone. Once the information was compromised, the syndicate executed immediate digital fund transfers.
Acting on technical intelligence, a specialized team from the Chandigarh Cyber Police raided a rented facility in Uttam Nagar, Delhi. Officers caught two women in the act of making deceptive calls while impersonating bank officials. During the raid, law enforcement confiscated 10 mobile phones, multiple active SIM cards, and various digital storage devices utilized in the fraud scheme.
Syndicate Operations and Ongoing Forensic Investigation
Investigators noted that both cases reflect the operational strategies utilized by organized cybercrime groups operating across state borders. These syndicates acquire leaked financial databases containing the personal contact details of active cardholders. Employing trained telecallers, the syndicates systematically contact targets, using script-based psychological manipulation to exploit trust or urgency.
The Chandigarh Cyber Crime Police are conducting forensic evaluations of the confiscated electronic devices, active SIM cards, and associated bank accounts to map out the entire financial trail. Authorities are coordinating with law enforcement agencies in neighboring states to verify if the arrested individuals are linked to similar open cybercrime cases across North India. Police officials stated that further arrests are anticipated as technical analysis continues.
