Lucknow: Cyber fraudsters allegedly used online gaming accounts and digital wallets to conceal ₹95.65 lakh siphoned from a victim in a digital arrest scam, with investigators tracing the money through 903 gaming accounts.
The investigation into the case, registered at Lucknow Cyber Crime Police Station on September 25, has found that the money was not kept in a single account but was split through multiple layers and routed across online gaming accounts. Police have so far placed liens on suspected accounts and secured around ₹44 lakh.
Fraudsters Posed as CBI and ED Officials
According to police, the fraudsters contacted the victim while posing as officials of central investigative agencies.
Through WhatsApp calls and video conferences, they allegedly told the victim that his name had surfaced in a money-laundering case and that he could be arrested.
The victim was allegedly kept under sustained pressure and fear of arrest before transferring a total of ₹95.65 lakh on the pretext of various procedures.
Money First Reached Accounts in Guwahati and Ranchi
During the financial investigation, police found that the money was initially transferred to two primary bank accounts in Guwahati and Ranchi.
Instead of moving the entire amount directly to another account, the funds were subsequently divided into smaller transactions.
These transactions eventually routed the money through 903 online gaming accounts. Police are now tracing transactions linked to all 903 accounts to reconstruct the complete flow of the allegedly defrauded money.
Funds Routed Through Multiple Layers
In cybercrime investigations, moving money through multiple bank accounts and digital platforms is commonly described as layering.
The process creates several financial layers between the original source of the funds and their eventual beneficiaries. By breaking a large payment into smaller transactions and routing it through multiple accounts and platforms, fraud networks can make it more difficult for investigators to trace the complete financial trail.
Investigators are now examining the role of the 903 gaming accounts and how they were used in the movement of the allegedly defrauded money.
Police are analysing bank accounts, gaming wallets, digital platforms and transaction records linked to the accounts. The account holders are also being examined to determine whether they knowingly helped move the fraud proceeds or whether their accounts were themselves used as intermediaries by another network.
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Police Trace Wider Financial Network
Police are also examining the broader pattern of cyber fraud in which criminals allegedly avoid keeping large amounts in a single account.
Instead, the money may be spread across multiple banking channels, digital wallets and gaming platforms. Such movement can complicate the identification and recovery of fraud proceeds.
The case has also highlighted the importance of quickly reporting suspicious transactions and placing immediate restrictions on accounts receiving suspected fraud proceeds.
₹44 Lakh Secured Through Account Liens
In the present case, the lien placed on around ₹44 lakh represents an initial financial intervention by investigators.
It is yet to be established where the remaining amount was ultimately transferred and how much of it can be recovered.
Police are continuing to examine the network connected to the 903 gaming accounts, along with the bank accounts and digital platforms through which the money was subsequently moved.
Digital Arrest Scam Used Fear of Arrest
Digital arrest scams typically involve fraudsters impersonating law-enforcement or investigative officials and threatening victims with arrest, investigation or allegations of money laundering.
Victims are then pressured into transferring money to purportedly clear the matter or comply with an investigation.
In this case, the victim was allegedly subjected to similar pressure before transferring the large amount.
Investigators are now focusing on identifying the final beneficiaries of the funds and establishing the complete network through which the money was routed.
What This Means For You
Government agencies do not conduct investigations by keeping victims on prolonged WhatsApp calls or demanding money to avoid arrest. If someone claiming to be a police, CBI or ED official threatens you with arrest and asks for a transfer, end the communication and report the suspected fraud immediately through official cybercrime channels.
The420 Insight
The movement of ₹95.65 lakh through 903 gaming accounts illustrates how fraud proceeds can be fragmented across multiple digital platforms, making financial tracing and recovery more complex. The case also shows why rapid reporting and early account restrictions can be critical in digital-fraud investigations.
About the Author : Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
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