Ghazipur Police have dismantled an organised cyber fraud network and arrested seven accused as part of Uttar Pradesh’s statewide “Cy-Vajra” anti-cybercrime campaign. Preliminary investigation has linked the network to more than 20 cyber fraud complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, with suspicious financial transactions traced so far totalling approximately ₹2.55 crore.
Eight joint teams drawn from the Cyber Cell, the Cyber Crime Police Station and multiple district stations carried out coordinated raids across Ghazipur. The operation resulted in seven arrests, with an eighth suspect also booked. Investigators identified the accused as Priyanshu Prajapati, Kuldeep Verma, Prince Gupta, Anurag Kumar and Sunny alias Pawan, along with two juveniles whose roles are being examined under juvenile justice procedures. Six criminal cases have so far been registered at police stations in Gahmar, Dildarnagar, Mohammadabad, Saidpur, Kotwali and Zamania.
Fake Ratings, Task Fraud and a Familiar Trust-Building Script
Investigators allege the group facilitated cybercriminals through task fraud, fake online ratings, mule bank accounts, suspicious mobile numbers and Ponzi-style investment schemes, providing the financial infrastructure that let fraud proceeds be layered and moved across multiple accounts. The syndicate allegedly exploited data obtained from e-commerce platforms to deceive victims through fake product-rating assignments and online task-based earning schemes.
The pattern followed a familiar script: victims were first paid small amounts to build confidence, then persuaded to deposit larger sums on the promise of significantly higher returns. Once bigger payments came in, communication was cut off and the proceeds were routed through mule accounts using layered transactions designed specifically to frustrate tracing. Police say WhatsApp, Telegram and other messaging platforms were used to recruit victims by advertising fake investment opportunities, part-time jobs and work-from-home schemes, with the network relying heavily on social engineering to exploit trust and the appeal of quick money.
Statewide Campaign, District-Level Results
Ghazipur’s bust adds to a growing tally of arrests under Cy-Vajra, the seven-day statewide campaign Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna launched on July 6 to intensify action against cyber criminals and speed up financial relief for victims. Similar coordinated raids under the same operation have already produced arrests in Gonda and Sitapur in the days since its launch, suggesting the campaign is generating parallel, district-level action across the state rather than a single centralised crackdown.
Police are now conducting forensic examination of the accused’s bank accounts, mobile phones and other digital devices to identify additional syndicate members and establish the complete money trail, with officials indicating more arrests are likely as fresh financial intelligence emerges.
Prof. Triveni Singh, the former IPS officer and cybercrime specialist, said organised cybercrime has evolved into a sophisticated financial ecosystem where mule bank accounts, fake digital identities and social engineering are used together to enable large-scale fraud. He said identifying and disrupting the financial chain early is crucial to dismantling such networks, and that sustained success requires coordinated financial investigation, digital forensics, banking intelligence and robust anti-money laundering measures alongside criminal prosecution. Police have advised citizens to remain cautious of task-based earning offers and fake investment schemes, and to report suspected fraud immediately through the National Cyber Helpline at 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
