Coimbatore | January 11, 2026 | The cyber crime wing of the Coimbatore City Police has busted an organised online fraud network allegedly operating out of Gujarat’s Surat, arresting 10 persons in connection with the cheating of a senior citizen of ₹16.49 lakh through a fake traffic challan message sent on WhatsApp.
According to the police, the accused targeted a 71-year-old resident of Kavundampalayam by impersonating transport authorities and inducing him to download a malicious mobile application, which ultimately gave them access to his bank account.
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The complainant, Samuel Chandrabose, stated that in September 2025 he received a WhatsApp message claiming that a traffic fine had been imposed on him and required immediate payment. The message carried a link and instructions to download an application to complete the transaction. Believing the message to be genuine, he followed the instructions.
Soon after the application was installed, his mobile phone became non-functional. Within a short span of time, ₹16.49 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from his bank account through 12 separate transactions. The victim later realised that he had been duped and approached the cyber crime wing of the Coimbatore City Police.
Given the magnitude of the fraud, a detailed investigation was launched involving technical analysis, digital forensics and tracking of banking transaction trails. The probe revealed that the money had been routed through multiple accounts and ultimately led investigators to Surat, where the fraud network was being operated.
A special team was constituted by the cyber crime wing, which conducted a swift operation in Surat and apprehended all 10 accused involved in the racket. Police officials said the arrests were made following coordinated efforts and based on credible digital evidence.
The arrested persons have been identified as Badlia Rajnibai Thalsibai (37), Vishwabai Himmatbai Rattadio (36), Rattadio Savan (34), Koshilvijay Dayal Singh (37), Rathore Jithendrasingh Sharvansingh (26), Kirase Mahendrasingh Thakesingh (35), Shovadia Miral Manojbai (22), Kabil Rajubai Gotre (36), Sovadia Meet Manojbai (25) and Balasanthan Jeynath (34).
During the searches conducted as part of the operation, the police seized 311 debit and credit cards, 10 mobile phones, a card swiping machine and a cheque book from the accused. Preliminary investigations suggest that the group used mule accounts and multiple bank cards to launder the cheated money and withdraw it in small tranches to avoid detection.
All the accused have been produced before a judicial magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is under way to ascertain whether the group was involved in similar frauds across other States.
In a significant development, the Coimbatore City Police has managed to freeze and recover ₹6.39 lakh from the bank accounts linked to the accused. Officials said the recovered amount would be handed over to the complainant after completion of the required legal formalities. Efforts are ongoing to trace and recover the remaining amount.
Commissioner of Police N. Kannan felicitated the special team for the successful operation. He commended Assistant Commissioner of Police M.P. Divya, Inspector of Cyber Crime Wing Alaguraj, and 10 other personnel for their prompt action and effective coordination in cracking an inter-State cyber fraud case.
The police have reiterated their warning to the public against clicking on unknown or suspicious links received via WhatsApp or other messaging platforms. Officials stressed that government departments do not send messages asking citizens to download applications for payment of fines, KYC updates or bank-related alerts, and advised people to verify such messages and report them immediately to the cyber crime helpline or the nearest police station.
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.
