Chandauli Police have arrested two men accused of opening around 300 bank accounts in the names of poor villagers by allegedly promising them benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Loan and other government schemes, and then using the accounts for cyber fraud.
Who Has Been Arrested?
Police arrested accused Rohit Kumar, a resident of Auraiya district, on Saturday. The second accused, identified as Vishwakarma, was already in jail.
Police said Rohit had expertise in opening bank accounts and was allegedly involved in opening around 300 accounts.
Proposal for Conducting Cyber Crisis Drill, Tabletop Exercise (TTEx) & CCMP Readiness Exercise
How Were Villagers Allegedly Targeted?
Members of the alleged gang visited villages and approached poor residents with promises of benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Loan and other government schemes.
After gaining their trust, the accused allegedly opened bank accounts in the villagers’ names. The accounts were subsequently used for cyber fraud.
How Were the Bank Accounts Opened?
After persuading villagers to open accounts, the accused allegedly obtained banking-related material and information connected to those accounts.
Police said ATM cards, passbooks and OTP-related information were obtained from the account holders after the accounts were opened.
How Were the Accounts Used for Cyber Fraud?
The bank accounts opened in the villagers’ names were allegedly used to carry out cyber fraud. The accused are suspected of using the accounts after obtaining control over key banking information and materials.
The investigation is focused on how the accounts were operated and used in the alleged cybercrime activities.
Police said around 300 bank accounts were opened as part of the alleged operation.
The large number of accounts is a key part of the investigation, with police examining their alleged use in cyber fraud and the role of those involved.
What Are Police Investigating Now?
Police are continuing their investigation into the alleged network and the use of the bank accounts opened in villagers’ names.
The case centres on allegations that poor villagers were induced with promises linked to government schemes before their bank accounts and banking details were used for cyber fraud.
What Should People Be Careful About?
People should be cautious when anyone offers government scheme benefits, loans or subsidies in exchange for opening bank accounts or sharing banking details.
ATM cards, passbooks, OTPs and account access should never be handed over to another person, as the account can later be misused for fraudulent transactions.
The420 Safety Takeaway
This case shows how bank accounts opened in the names of unsuspecting people can allegedly become tools for cyber fraud. Anyone approached with promises linked to government schemes should verify the offer independently and retain full control of their bank account, ATM card and authentication details.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
