Police have arrested five people allegedly involved in a cyber fraud gang that posed as GST officials and collected money in bank accounts under the pretext of government-related proceedings.
The accused allegedly identified themselves as GST department officials and gained the confidence of people before getting money transferred into accounts linked to them. After the initial investigation indicated a possible cyber fraud angle, the five accused were handed over to the Hamirpur Police. Investigators are now examining the alleged network, the amount involved and the possible role of other people.
The case came to light during the investigation of a robbery case registered in Hamirpur. A robbery case was registered at Kotwali Nagar police station in Hamirpur on September 22. While investigating the case, police were gathering information about the accused and their contacts. During the investigation, the activities of individuals allegedly posing as GST officials and asking people to transfer money into their accounts came to light.
Following the information gathered during the investigation, a police team was constituted on the directions of senior officers to trace and arrest the suspects. The team subsequently arrested five people from the Kushinagar area.
The arrested accused have been identified as Bhola Yadav, Krish Yadav, Abhinav Rawat and Aman Yadav, all residents of Koindi Gosai Patti in the Tamkuhi Raj area. Ankit Gupta, a resident of Ahirauli Dan in the Tarayasuja area, was also arrested.
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According to police, the accused allegedly contacted people while posing as GST officials and attempted to convince them that they were dealing with genuine government authorities. They allegedly used this identity to obtain money and have it transferred into bank accounts linked to them. However, investigators have not yet established how many people were allegedly targeted or the total amount involved in the suspected fraud.
The Hamirpur Police were informed about the arrests. On Thursday morning, a team from Hamirpur reached Kushinagar, after which the local police handed over all five arrested accused to them. The Hamirpur Police are now questioning the accused as part of the investigation.
Investigators are also expected to examine mobile phones, bank accounts and other available digital evidence linked to the accused. Such analysis could help establish how the alleged fraud was carried out, identify people who may have transferred money and trace the movement of funds after they entered the suspected beneficiary accounts.
Police officials said the investigation is still at an early stage. The total financial loss allegedly caused by the suspected cyber fraud will become clear only after the examination of bank transactions and other evidence. Investigators are also trying to determine the specific role of each arrested accused.
Police are examining whether the accused directly contacted potential victims or were allegedly working as part of a larger network in which different individuals arranged bank accounts, received money or transferred funds. The investigation could also establish whether additional people were involved in operating the suspected network.
The authorities are expected to analyse transactions in the bank accounts linked to the accused to identify the source of the funds and their subsequent movement. Mobile numbers, SIM cards, digital communications and other electronic evidence may also help investigators trace additional links in the alleged network.
Police have indicated that further action will be taken if the investigation establishes the involvement of other individuals. For now, questioning of the five arrested accused and examination of available evidence are continuing. Police said the complete structure of the alleged fraud network and the roles of those involved will become clearer as the investigation progresses.
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