A Dwarka-based advocate’s dream of stock market riches turned into a digital nightmare when he was defrauded of ₹64.75 lakh by an organized cybercrime network with links to Chinese fraudsters. The case, which began with a simple WhatsApp message, has now led to multiple arrests and unveiled a complex web of money laundering, cryptocurrency payments, and cross-border coordination.
From Stock Tips to Stolen Savings
On February 28, Ashok Kumar, an advocate and property dealer from Goyla Khurd in Delhi’s Dwarka area, received what seemed like an enticing opportunity. A woman identifying herself as “Tanvi,” an employee of an investment firm, contacted him with a pitch promising lucrative returns through online trading. All Ashok needed to do was install a Demat app via a link she sent on WhatsApp.
Initially, everything appeared legitimate. After depositing ₹50,000, Ashok saw ₹60,000 credited to his in-app wallet the next day. This apparent profit encouraged him to invest more. Over the next month, he transferred a staggering ₹64.75 lakh to five separate bank accounts under Tanvi’s guidance, with the largest single transaction of ₹32 lakh on March 27. These accounts, he was told, would funnel his money into trading ventures, with earnings visible in his wallet.
But when Ashok was asked to make a final “tax” payment of ₹57 lakh to access his profits, he hesitated. He had already drained his life savings. The app froze. Tanvi disappeared. And Ashok realized he had been conned.
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Uncovering the Web: USDT, Fake Accounts, and Telegram Links
Ashok reported the scam to Delhi Police, and the case was escalated to the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) Special Cell on April 2. Investigators quickly discovered a sprawling laundering operation. According to DCP (IFSO) Hemant Tiwari, Ashok’s money had been distributed across five bank accounts and funneled through layers of shell accounts, making the trail difficult to follow.
The police first arrested Abdul Barik on May 3 in Dwarka. Barik admitted to providing his bank account details to one Kewin alias Vaddoriya Kewin Mukeshbhai, who was picked up the same day from Loni, Ghaziabad. Investigators say Kewin operated as a middleman, selling access to bank accounts to Chinese cybercriminals in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.
Kewin, previously arrested in Gujarat in a “digital arrest” scam, had rejoined the cybercrime ecosystem after being released on bail. He was active on Chinese-language Telegram groups, where he advertised Indian bank accounts. Once a buyer was interested, a local Hindi-to-Chinese translator mediated the exchange. Payments to Kewin were made in USDT (Tether), a stablecoin cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar, and credited to his digital wallet.
The commissions were then distributed among Indian accomplices. Abdul Barik’s cut was allegedly transferred to Akash Joshi, another suspect, who converted the USDT into cash and handed it to Abdul. Joshi remains absconding, and police believe he played a key role in facilitating crypto-to-cash conversions for the scam ring.
A Growing Threat: The Rise of International Cybercrime Networks
This case is just one among a rising tide of cyber scams linked to foreign actors, particularly from China. Law enforcement officials are alarmed by the sophistication and cross-border nature of these frauds, which involve everything from deepfake identities and fake trading apps to crypto wallets and social engineering tactics.
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Kewin’s role as a repeat offender highlights how cybercriminals are adapting fast, using newer digital tools like stablecoins and encrypted messaging apps to obscure their tracks and continue operations. The use of cryptocurrency exchanges for laundering funds and the reliance on legitimate-sounding financial jargon to lure unsuspecting victims make detection and enforcement even more challenging.
Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar remains a cautionary tale for many. An educated professional with financial literacy, he still fell prey to psychological manipulation, staged profit displays, and the illusion of control—common tools in the cyber fraudster’s playbook.
The Delhi Police continue to pursue leads and are tracking financial trails across multiple crypto platforms, hoping to identify other victims and collaborators. For now, the case serves as yet another warning about the growing convergence of cybercrime, digital finance, and international collusion that is redefining financial fraud in India.