Jaunpur. Police in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, have busted an interstate cybercrime gang allegedly involved in defrauding a petrol pump manager of ₹75 lakh by hacking his WhatsApp account and using chats to facilitate fraudulent bank transfers. Three accused—Vinod Kumar Mishra, Kamal Yadav and Lovkesh Kumar Singh—have been arrested in connection with the case.
Police recovered three Android mobile phones allegedly used in the fraud, a Nepali mobile number and a cheque book from the accused. Acting swiftly after receiving the complaint, the police managed to freeze approximately ₹1.55 crore across various bank accounts within 72 hours. Investigators have also found links between the accused persons’ bank accounts and cyber fraud complaints registered in five states, including Uttar Pradesh.
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According to the police, the gang allegedly arranged fake bank accounts in exchange for commissions. Money obtained through cyber fraud was deposited into these accounts and subsequently transferred to other accounts to move the funds through the banking system. Investigators are examining the links to complaints registered in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar.
₹75 Lakh Fraud Complaint Filed on October 8
Additional Superintendent of Police (City) and Cyber Crime Nodal Officer Anant Chandrashekhar said a complaint regarding the ₹75 lakh cyber fraud was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station on October 8. Following the registration of the case, the police launched a detailed investigation to trace the money and identify those involved.
During the investigation, officials discovered that cybercriminals had allegedly hacked the WhatsApp account of the complainant’s petrol pump manager. The accused then used chats to arrange transfers into two separate bank accounts.
According to the complaint, ₹45 lakh was transferred to the first account and ₹30 lakh to the second, taking the total amount allegedly defrauded to ₹75 lakh. Police subsequently examined the transaction records, the details of the beneficiary accounts and other suspicious financial movements to establish the flow of funds.
Money Routed Through NGO and Private Firm Accounts
The investigation revealed that the first bank account was registered in the name of an NGO called Samaj Kalyan Evam Gramin Vikas Sansthan. Vinod Kumar Mishra was identified as its president, while Kamal Yadav and others were listed among its members.
The second account was registered in the name of Lakhdatar Enterprises. Investigators are examining the transactions conducted through both accounts and the alleged roles of the individuals associated with them.
Further scrutiny revealed that approximately ₹1.53 crore in suspected cyber fraud proceeds had entered the first account on October 7, while ₹30 lakh had been credited to the second account. The transactions under investigation therefore pointed to a combined amount of ₹1.83 crore linked to suspected cyber fraud across the two accounts.
The findings suggest that the accounts may have been used to receive money from multiple cyber fraud incidents rather than solely for the alleged fraud involving the petrol pump manager. Police are tracing the transactions to determine the origins of the funds and where the money was subsequently transferred.
Six Complaints Already Registered on NCRP
Investigators also found that six complaints had previously been registered against the two bank accounts on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Police are examining these complaints to establish their connections with the suspected interstate network and other reported cybercrime cases.
The investigation is also focused on determining how many victims may have been targeted, who helped arrange the allegedly fraudulent bank accounts and which other accounts received the proceeds. The role of additional individuals who may have facilitated the movement of funds is also being examined.
The arrest of three accused and the freezing of funds across multiple bank accounts represent significant developments in the investigation. However, the amount frozen should not be confused with money actually recovered or returned to victims.
Police are continuing to analyse banking transactions, mobile phones and other digital evidence to establish the full extent of the suspected network. Further investigation is expected to clarify the connections between the accounts, the complaints registered across different states and the alleged movement of funds through the banking system.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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