New Delhi – In a sweeping crackdown against online fraud, the Delhi Police have arrested six individuals connected to multiple cybercrime syndicates operating across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
The week-long operation uncovered a string of organized scams — ranging from “digital arrest” frauds and fake work-from-home offers to social media blackmail and phishing rackets — exposing how deeply cybercriminal networks have infiltrated urban India’s digital ecosystem.
Social Media Blackmail to Digital Arrest Scams: Four Key Cases Exposed
In the first case, police arrested Gulfam Ansari from Delhi’s Ranhola Extension for allegedly blackmailing a woman using her private videos and demanding ₹3 lakh. Investigators recovered seven mobile phones, three ATM cards, two cheque books, one passbook, and two SIM cards from his possession.
In another operation, Shiva and Puneet Kumar alias Sahil, both residents of Faridabad, were arrested for their role in a “digital arrest” scam, where they posed as law enforcement officers to extort ₹11.75 lakh from a woman under the pretext of a money-laundering probe.
In Jaipur, police detained Ankit Sonkariya, accused of running a fraudulent work-from-home scheme. He lured victims by offering payment for writing “location reviews” on map applications and siphoned off ₹2.74 lakh from one complainant.
The fourth case led to the arrest of Lavesh Kumar and Harbhajan from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. The duo allegedly operated a fake BSES Meter Verification app to harvest victims’ banking credentials. One complainant was cheated of ₹16.52 lakh, of which the police have traced and frozen ₹6 lakh.
Police Target Cross-State Cyber Syndicates
Senior officers said the arrests mark a major step toward dismantling coordinated cybercrime groups that function across multiple states using digital infrastructure.
DCP Sharad Bhaskar Darade said:
“These fraudsters exploit social media, mobile apps, and fake websites to trap people. Many cases show how the stolen money was routed through multiple third-party accounts to obstruct digital tracing.”
The police are now mapping financial trails and examining connections between suspects across different jurisdictions.
The Changing Face of Cybercrime
Experts note that cyber fraud in India has evolved from mere technical hacks to psychological manipulation — exploiting fear, trust, and greed.
Scammers often impersonate government officers, bank executives, or corporate employees to create a false sense of legitimacy.
“Today’s cybercrime is not just about technology — it’s about human behavior,” said a Delhi-based cyber analyst. “Fraudsters no longer break into systems; they break into minds.”
Digital Awareness Remains the First Line of Defense
Authorities have urged citizens not to share personal or banking details through unknown links, apps, or calls, and to immediately report suspicious activity at cybercrime.gov.in.
Financial security experts say the surge in digital scams underscores the urgent need for public cyber literacy.
“Cybersecurity is no longer optional,” an expert observed. “In a world where your phone is your bank, awareness is your strongest firewall.”
