Cyber fraud in Gorakhpur has risen sharply in the first four months of 2026, with 2,767 cases reported between January 1 and April 30 and losses reaching nearly Rs 10.73 crore, while police said swift action helped freeze about Rs 3.62 crore in bank accounts linked to the frauds.
Sharp Rise in Cases and Financial Losses
According to official data, the district had already recorded 2,767 cyber fraud cases in the first four months of this year. During the same period, criminals allegedly cheated victims of around Rs 10.73 crore. Police said they were able to freeze approximately Rs 3.62 crore through timely intervention with banks.
The current figures follow a high number of cases in 2025 as well. Officials said the district recorded 5,182 cyber fraud cases last year involving losses of about Rs 27.49 crore. Out of that amount, around Rs 9.37 crore was frozen through banking channels after police action.
Even with some improvement in freezing stolen funds, officials indicated that the overall pattern of cybercrime continues to move upward, underlining the expanding scale of the threat.
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Mule Accounts and Rural Expansion Under Scanner
Investigators said cyber fraud networks have now expanded into rural areas. According to officials, poor and unemployed people are being lured with promises of benefits under government schemes, after which bank accounts are opened in their names and later used as mule accounts to move stolen money.
In several instances, fraudsters allegedly take control of passbooks, ATM cards and cheque books. In other cases, accounts are opened using victims’ identity documents, but operational control remains with gang members. Officials said account holders are reportedly paid between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 in return for allowing the use of their accounts.
Police said more than 1,700 mule accounts have been verified so far, though they suspect the actual number is much higher. Investigators added that such accounts are central to laundering the proceeds of cybercrime, making it harder to trace where the money originally came from and where it ultimately went.
Monitoring, Arrests and Recovery Measures
Officials said 496 ATM withdrawal related incidents were examined this year, along with 145 cheque withdrawal cases. Police also verified 136 suspicious location hotspots and blocked 2,963 suspicious mobile numbers linked to fraudulent activity.
This year, police have registered eight cases and arrested 28 accused persons involved in cyber fraud. Those arrested include Rahul Kumar, Aman Yadav, Vikas Gupta, Sonu Nishad and Rakesh Patel, who are allegedly linked to mule account operations and coordinated digital fraud networks.
SP Crime Namaste said sustained action is being taken against cybercriminal networks and that monitoring of digital transactions has been intensified. Police stressed that immediate reporting remains the most important factor in recovery and said victims should contact the national cyber helpline 1930 or the cybercrime portal without delay. Officials also urged people never to share OTPs, UPI PINs or banking credentials under any circumstances, as investigators continue to analyse suspicious accounts, transaction chains and mule account networks for wider links.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
