The Ghaziabad Police Crime Branch has arrested 21-year-old Satyavrat for allegedly running a cyber fraud operation through an online food delivery platform, using stolen credit card details to route money through fraudulent cloud kitchens.
Police said the accused allegedly defrauded customers of more than ₹30 lakh over seven to eight months. He had previously worked as a customer care executive with a private bank and left the job in December 2025.
How Did the Fraud Work?
According to police, Satyavrat registered two fraudulent cloud kitchens on an online food delivery platform.
He allegedly obtained information related to around 52 customers of his former bank through a group on a messaging application. Investigators said he then contacted those customers while posing as a bank customer care executive.
During the calls, he allegedly obtained their credit card details and OTPs.
How Were Fake Food Orders Used?
Police said the accused allegedly used the stolen credit card details to place orders from the cloud kitchens he himself controlled.
Payments for those orders were made using the customers’ cards. The money received by the kitchens through the food delivery platform ultimately went to the accused, allowing him to allegedly route money from the victims’ credit cards through the fake food businesses.
What Happened After Customers Complained?
Customers began reporting unauthorised credit card transactions to their banks and the food delivery platform.
Following repeated complaints, the platform removed the two cloud kitchens allegedly operated by Satyavrat.
However, police said he subsequently opened a third kitchen and allegedly continued using the same method.
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How Much Money Was Allegedly Taken?
Police estimate that customers were defrauded of more than ₹30 lakh during the seven-to-eight-month period.
On September 17, the accused allegedly cheated a Ghaziabad resident of ₹38,000 through the same method.
The food delivery platform subsequently filed a complaint, prompting police to investigate the alleged operation.
How Was the Accused Arrested?
During the investigation, police gathered information about the accused’s activities and the cloud kitchens allegedly linked to him.
Satyavrat was arrested from the Kaushambi area on Saturday.
Investigators are now examining the transactions and customers whose credit cards were allegedly used for unauthorised food orders.
Where Did the Customer Data Come From?
A key part of the investigation is how information relating to the former bank’s customers allegedly reached the accused.
Police are examining how customer information became available through the messaging-app group and whether Satyavrat had access to information belonging to customers beyond the 52 identified so far.
His previous employment with the bank and his activities after leaving the job are also being examined.
What Are Police Investigating Now?
Investigators are checking order records from the allegedly fraudulent cloud kitchens and tracing the money received through those transactions.
Bank accounts, mobile numbers and other digital channels allegedly used to operate the kitchens are also under examination.
Police are seeking to establish the full amount involved and determine whether additional transactions or victims are connected to the alleged fraud.
The420 Takeaway: Never Share Your OTP
The case shows how stolen customer information can be combined with impersonation to carry out financial fraud. Customers should never disclose credit card details or OTPs to callers claiming to represent a bank. An OTP can provide the final authorisation needed to complete an unauthorised transaction.
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