Delhi Police have arrested a mother and son from Ghaziabad for allegedly operating a fake detective agency website and cheating a man of ₹1.15 lakh after he searched online for private investigation services.
The accused have been identified as Poonam Singh, 45, and her son Arnav Singh, 22. Police allege that they operated SleuthIndia.com, a website designed to resemble the genuine detective agency website SleuthsIndia.com.
A laptop and two mobile phones have been seized and are being examined for digital evidence. Both accused were produced before a court and sent to judicial custody.
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₹1.15 Lakh Paid for Detective Services That Allegedly Never Arrived
The case began after complainant Bhanu Pratap Singh searched online for detective services and came across SleuthIndia.com.
According to police, he contacted a mobile number displayed on the website and was assured that private detective and investigation services would be provided.
He was then allegedly persuaded to pay around ₹1.15 lakh.
Police say the promised service was not provided after the payment was made, following which Singh approached the cybercrime unit.
An e-FIR was subsequently registered at Cyber East police station under Sections 318(4), 319(2) and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The provisions cited by police relate broadly to cheating, cheating by personation and offences involving forged or fraudulent documents or electronic records.
The allegations have not yet been proved in court.
Lookalike Website Allegedly Used to Gain Victim’s Trust
Police say SleuthIndia.com was designed to resemble SleuthsIndia.com, which they described as a genuine detective agency website.
That small difference in the domain name is central to the case.
Fraudsters increasingly use websites with names, branding or addresses that look almost identical to established businesses. A victim searching quickly on Google may not notice an added, removed or substituted letter before making contact.
In this case, investigators allege that the lookalike website was used to convince customers that they were dealing with an established detective service.
Police examined the website’s digital infrastructure along with associated mobile numbers, email addresses and communication records while trying to identify its alleged operators.
Money Allegedly Moved Through Multiple Bank Accounts
The financial trail became another major part of the investigation.
According to police, the ₹1.15 lakh paid by the complainant was credited to an IDFC First Bank account maintained in Poonam Singh’s name.
Investigators allege that the money was subsequently transferred into other bank accounts.
Police examined transaction records alongside technical evidence from the website and communication channels. These financial and digital trails allegedly led investigators to a residential address at Migsun Roof in Sikrod, Ghaziabad.
A police team subsequently conducted a raid at the location.
Arnav Singh was arrested first after investigators said evidence emerged connecting him with the alleged operation. Police recovered a laptop and a mobile phone from him.
A second mobile phone belonging to Poonam Singh was also seized. Police said the device contained several phone numbers, including one allegedly used to communicate with the complainant.
Poonam was subsequently arrested.
Devices Could Reveal Other Victims and Payments
Investigators are now analysing the seized laptop and phones to determine whether other people contacted the website and made payments for similar services.
Police are expected to examine browser history, email accounts, customer communication, payment records and other digital material stored on the devices.
The investigation is also looking at how long the website had allegedly been operating and whether payments beyond the ₹1.15 lakh linked to the present complainant were received.
Tracing the onward movement of money could also help investigators identify additional bank accounts or people potentially connected with the alleged operation.
Police said the broader digital and financial network remains under investigation.
Previous Fraud Case Against Mother Also Under Scrutiny
Police records cited in reports show that Poonam Singh had previously been involved in another fraud case registered at Sarai Rohilla police station.
That earlier case was registered under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, the provision then used for cheating offences.
Police have not publicly established any operational link between that earlier case and the present allegations.
The current investigation is focused on evidence connected with SleuthIndia.com, the complainant’s payment and the financial trail allegedly involving the accused.
The case also shows how a professional-looking website can create a false sense of legitimacy. A convincing domain name, contact number and online service page do not by themselves establish that a business is genuine.
What this means for you
Before paying an online service provider, search the exact domain name independently and compare it with the company’s verified website, contact details and business records. Look carefully for small spelling differences in web addresses, especially when large advance payments are being demanded.
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