In a high-stakes cyber operation, Lucknow Police unearthed a sprawling transnational fraud racket operated through a gaming app. With over 200 complaints nationwide, and ties to Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Dubai, this case exposes how digital deception is orchestrated across borders and executed from local apartments.
The Operation That Brought Down a Digital Empire
In a coordinated crackdown, a joint team from the Lucknow Cyber Crime Unit, PGI Police, and the Cyber Police Station executed a major bust in the PGI area of the city, leading to the arrest of 15 individuals, including the key accused, Vishal Yadav alias Prince Yadav. Acting on intelligence and cyber surveillance, the police raided the penthouse of a high-rise apartment where a sophisticated online fraud racket had been operating for over a month.
The operation was announced in a press briefing by DCP Crime Kamlesh Dixit and ADCP Crime Vasant Kumar. They revealed that the accused had been running the scam from six rooms across two floors, never stepping outside and using deceptive online identities to lure unsuspecting job seekers across India.
A Gaming App With a Sinister Motive
At the heart of the scam was a seemingly innocuous gaming application named Anna Reddy, which the gang used as a front for elaborate financial fraud. Posing as HR executives from reputed multinational companies (MNCs), the accused duped individuals—primarily from South India—by offering fake employment opportunities. Victims were asked to perform online “tasks” within the gaming app, and then coerced into investing increasing sums of money under the pretense of job confirmation or additional tasks.
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The money, however, was funneled offshore—part of it going directly to an international syndicate with operatives in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Dubai. Investigators believe that the scam’s mastermind is currently operating from Dubai and has yet to be apprehended. According to police, the accused followed strict digital protocols and avoided leaving their hideout, minimizing their footprint.
Nationwide Victims, Global Footprints
This scam has triggered over 200 complaints across India, revealing the vast reach of the racket. Among the 15 arrested, 12 hail from Bihar and other Indian states, recruited to work in shifts from the Lucknow hideout. Law enforcement officials discovered fake office setups labeled as MNCs—designed to build trust and legitimacy while targeting tech-savvy youth desperate for employment.
The scale of the operation was significant. Each room served a designated role—one for social engineering training, another for communications, and yet another for handling financial transactions and digital wallets. Investigators also tracked the accused’s travel history, which revealed multiple trips to Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Dubai, indicating deep connections to international cybercrime networks.
“The scam was not just about money; it was about emotional manipulation, leveraging joblessness and desperation,” said a senior official part of the probe.
The Hunt for the Mastermind Continues
While key operatives like Ganni and Prince have been apprehended, the suspected kingpin—believed to be directing operations remotely from Dubai—remains at large. Authorities are now working with international agencies to trace the digital trail and bring the remaining members of the syndicate to justice.