Kannauj police uncovered a scheme that turned digital entertainment into a financial trap. Over six months, a group of men built a network of fake gaming apps and lured users with the promise of easy returns. Victims were encouraged to invest small sums, rewarded with modest profits, and slowly pushed into depositing larger amounts. When the stakes rose, the funds vanished.
What began as harmless gaming soon turned into a web of deceit, costing ordinary people their savings.
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A Corporate Veil and Global Reach
Investigators revealed that the operation was led by Satya Prakash Chaubey, who opened a corporate account in Pune under the name of a shell company. Through this account alone, transactions worth Rs 7 crore were funneled. The money was layered through multiple banks before moving across state borders and into the hands of agents in Dubai.
Police say the pattern mirrors elements of international hawala networks, suggesting the scam was not confined to Uttar Pradesh or even India.
Modus Operandi of the Gang
The gang’s strategy hinged on building trust. By initially returning small profits, they convinced victims that the gaming platform was genuine. As investments grew, the perpetrators drained accounts and cut off communication. One officer explained, “The victims were baited with returns at first. Once the deposits became significant, the money disappeared.”
Among the arrested, one man was caught in Aligarh, while three were nabbed in Kannauj. All have been placed in judicial custody.
Concerns Beyond the Arrests
For police and experts, the arrests only mark the beginning. Officer Jitendra Pratap Singh emphasized the gang’s organized structure, with links stretching across states and into the Gulf. “We are now coordinating with interstate and international agencies,” he said.
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Professor Triveni Singh cautioned that gaming apps are fast becoming a vehicle for fraud. “They are no longer just for entertainment. For many youths seeking quick money, they have turned into entry points for financial crime and social distress,” he observed.
As India’s digital economy expands, scams like these underscore the urgent need for stronger regulation, financial literacy, and global cooperation.