Cybercrime police have arrested three persons for allegedly cheating a city-based man of ₹19 crore in a USDT transaction by using a fake website to gain access to his bank and crypto credentials. The accused diverted 21,04,089 USDT to wallets under their control after luring the victim into a fraudulent KYC process.
According to investigators, the accused contacted the victim earlier this year posing as buyers interested in purchasing USDT. To “complete the transaction”, they directed him to undergo a KYC verification on a website named ‘trontag.org’.
Police said the site was designed as a phishing tool to capture banking details, login credentials and authentication data. Once the victim entered the information, the gang immediately transferred the USDT from his account to their own digital wallets.
After discovering the fraud, the victim approached the cybercrime police, who registered a case and launched a technical investigation. Officers analysed blockchain transaction trails, banking logs and digital footprints to identify the suspects and track the movement of funds.
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One of the arrested persons is believed to have developed and managed the fake website. Investigators said the portal was crafted to closely resemble a legitimate crypto KYC platform, reducing suspicion and increasing the chances of victims entering sensitive details.
The probe revealed that the gang attempted to obscure the money trail through wallet layering and fund routing techniques, moving the stolen assets across multiple addresses. However, transaction mapping and server log analysis enabled police to trace the operation and make the arrests.
Cybercrime officials have issued a public advisory warning citizens not to share banking or crypto KYC details on unknown links or unverified platforms. Users have been urged to deal only through officially recognised exchanges and secure channels.
Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether additional gang members or a wider mule network were involved in laundering the proceeds. The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the IT Act and cheating laws.
Authorities noted that the case highlights the growing use of phishing websites and social engineering in crypto-related frauds, where victims are tricked into compromising their own credentials. They emphasised that vigilance, verification of URLs and use of trusted platforms remain the most effective safeguards against such scams.
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.
