New Delhi: An interstate cyber fraud network allegedly exploiting Common Service Centres (CSCs) to route and conceal proceeds of online fraud has been busted by the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police’s North District. Three alleged facilitators — Ashish Kumar, Amit Kumar and Umesh Chand — have been arrested from Shahjahanpur, Hardoi and Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh.
Investigators have found suspicious transactions exceeding ₹2.50 crore in bank accounts linked to the accused. Police suspect that the arrested men were providing bank accounts, CSC wallets and SIM cards to the main cyber fraudsters in return for commissions, enabling them to receive, transfer and withdraw money generated through online scams.
The investigation began after a complaint by a 72-year-old man who allegedly lost ₹1.99 lakh in an online fraud. The victim had applied for a Tata Power solar power connection and for changing the name on his existing electricity connection and meter.
₹13 Payment Link Led to ₹1.99 Lakh Loss
According to the investigation, the elderly man received a call on July 18 from a person claiming to be associated with the electricity connection process. The caller allegedly told him that an additional payment of ₹13 was required and sent him a link for the transaction.
After the victim clicked on the link, ₹1.99 lakh was allegedly debited from his bank account. The complaint prompted the Cyber Cell to examine the financial trail and identify the accounts through which the defrauded money had been routed.
Payment Gateway Led Investigators to CSC Wallet
During the investigation, police traced part of the transaction through the PayU payment gateway to a CSC merchant wallet registered in the name of “Ashish Kumar Jan Seva Kendra”.
Using the registered mobile number, transaction details and other technical evidence, investigators traced the wallet to Ashish Kumar in Shahjahanpur and arrested him.
During questioning, investigators allegedly found that the wallet was being used as part of a larger arrangement through which cyber fraud proceeds were moved between accounts and digital payment channels.
Second Accused Allegedly Supplied Accounts and SIM Cards
Following Ashish’s arrest, police traced Amit Kumar to Hardoi and arrested him. Investigators allege that Amit acted as a facilitator for the cyber fraud network by arranging bank accounts, CSC wallets and SIM cards for the operators.
According to the investigation, Amit allegedly retained some SIM cards that were issued to customers during mobile number porting procedures. These SIM cards were subsequently allegedly used for activating wallets and carrying out suspicious financial transactions.
Police are examining the source of the SIM cards and the manner in which they were activated and linked to the financial accounts and CSC wallets used by the network.
Third Arrest From Lakhimpur Kheri
Investigators then traced the CSC wallet information to Umesh Chand, a resident of Mandwa in Lakhimpur Kheri. Umesh was subsequently arrested.
Police allege that Umesh received the CSC wallet details from Amit and, in return, Amit was paid a commission equivalent to 5% of the amount credited to the wallet.
During questioning, Umesh allegedly told investigators that he had further shared the wallet details with a person identified as “Ramdas”. Police are now searching for Ramdas and examining his alleged role in the network.
Five Bank Accounts Show ₹2.50 Crore Transactions
Police have recovered five mobile phones, 20 SIM cards, nine passbooks, six cheque books, 15 debit and credit cards and a biometric fingerprint machine from the accused.
The financial investigation has so far identified more than ₹2.50 crore in suspicious transactions through five bank accounts linked to the accused. Investigators are examining whether the accounts were deliberately used as mule accounts to receive and transfer proceeds of cyber fraud.
At least five other cyber fraud complaints registered in different states have also been linked to transactions involving these bank accounts. Investigators are now expanding the financial trail to identify other accounts, wallets, SIM cards and individuals associated with the network.
The arrests have exposed the alleged misuse of CSC infrastructure, which is intended to provide digital and government-related services to citizens, as a mechanism for facilitating cybercrime. Police are continuing the investigation to identify the main fraud operators, trace the remaining money trail and determine the wider extent of the interstate network.
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About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
