Rajasthan Police have arrested a young man from Hanumangarh for allegedly running a multi-crore cyber fraud operation after falling into a “love trap” laid by a Pakistani woman. Investigators have so far traced suspicious transactions worth nearly Rs 3.26 crore, while records show at least 36 complaints linked to the accused across 14 states.
The accused, identified as Hardeep Singh, a resident of Dabli Rathan, is a Class XII pass. Police said his contact with Rabia, a woman based in Pakistan, began around two years ago through a fraudulent call. What started as regular conversations soon developed into a personal relationship, following which Hardeep allegedly began facilitating cyber fraud activities in India at her behest.
Preliminary investigations reveal that Rabia and her family were operating an organised cyber scam call centre from Pakistan. To make their operations appear domestic, Hardeep supplied the gang with Indian SIM cards and WhatsApp numbers, allowing calls and messages to look like they originated from within India.
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The syndicate used social media platforms to circulate advertisements for fake NGOs, discounted products and instant loans, drawing unsuspecting victims into the trap. Once money was extracted, it was deposited into multiple Indian bank accounts arranged by Hardeep.
Police said the accused recruited poor daily-wage workers from his village and nearby areas, luring them with small payments to rent their bank accounts. These accounts were then used as conduits for routing the defrauded money.
Officials added that Hardeep kept around 15 per cent commission from each transaction, while the remaining amount was converted into cryptocurrency—primarily USDT—and transferred to handlers in Pakistan. More than 100 people are suspected to have fallen prey to the racket.
During searches, police recovered 26 bank passbooks, eight cheque books, 18 ATM cards, eight SIM cards, documents linked to Pakistan and three mobile phones from the accused. Investigators also found that Hardeep had attempted to travel to Pakistan and had applied for a visa, though the application was unsuccessful.
Superintendent of Police Hari Shankar said forensic analysis of digital devices and bank records is underway to map the full scale of the network. Central security agencies have also been alerted to assess whether the proceeds of cyber fraud were diverted for any unlawful or anti-national activities.
While no concrete evidence of espionage has surfaced so far, police are probing all angles, including the possibility of terror financing. Following the arrest, authorities have intensified “Operation Cyber Clean” to dismantle the wider network and identify additional operatives.
Cyber experts involved in the investigation said such cross-border scams increasingly rely on emotional manipulation, fake identities and layered financial channels to evade detection. They stressed that early reporting by victims is crucial to freezing funds before they are laundered through cryptocurrency or offshore accounts.
Police have urged citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited online offers, fake charity appeals and instant loan schemes circulated on social media or messaging platforms. People have been advised to immediately report suspicious calls or transactions to the national cyber crime helpline or their nearest police station.
Officials said the case highlights how overseas cyber syndicates exploit local contacts to run sophisticated fraud operations in India, underlining the need for public awareness and swift inter-agency coordination to curb such crimes.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
