Kanpur | Bureau Report: In a major cybercrime breakthrough, the Kanpur Cyber Branch has uncovered an international honeytrap racket that defrauded a retired Indian bank employee of ₹2.52 crore. Investigators revealed that the stolen funds were converted into cryptocurrency and transferred to Cambodia, exposing a sophisticated cross-border money laundering network.
The cyber cell team arrested three accused from Jodhpur, identified as Paras Fulsra, Rahul, and Mahendra, an alleged “mobile expert.” According to police officials, the gang used crypto wallets and Chinese-based servers to transfer money in a way that made digital tracing almost impossible.
Retired Banker Fell Prey to Digital Honeytrap
The victim, Anil Kumar Singh Chauhan, a retired bank employee residing in Signature Green City, Kanpur, came into contact with a woman who introduced herself under a fake identity named “era reddy.” Over time, they developed a friendly rapport online, after which she persuaded him to invest in cryptocurrency schemes promising lucrative returns.
Trusting her assurances, the victim made multiple online transactions over several weeks, cumulatively transferring ₹2.52 crore into 11 different bank accounts, each linked to the syndicate’s network.
How the Scam Operated
Inspector , who led the probe, stated that the victim was shown a fake trading platform through which he was made to believe he was earning profits. However, the transferred amounts were systematically funneled to multiple Indian accounts and then converted into cryptocurrency.
Investigations revealed that about 10% commission was given to local handlers across Indian cities, while the remaining funds were transferred to Cambodia-based wallets. The racket used “mule accounts” and international VoIP numbers to mask their identity and evade tracking.
Trail Leads to Jodhpur and Cambodia
During interrogation, police traced a key link to Ram Niwas, a Jodhpur resident, who managed a cryptocurrency account used in the operation. His interrogation led officers to uncover connections with Cambodian cyber operators running similar investment frauds across Asia.
ADCP Anjali Vishwakarma confirmed that investigators have recovered ₹28 lakh so far and unearthed transaction records amounting to ₹1.4 crore in digital crypto transfers.
Global Dimension of Digital Fraud
Officials say the case highlights the growing sophistication of transnational cyber syndicates that exploit cryptocurrency platforms to launder illicit funds. What began as an emotional manipulation through online friendship eventually evolved into a borderless financial crime, leveraging technology to erase physical and jurisdictional boundaries.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant against online investment proposals or romantic overtures, emphasizing that most such offers originate from overseas fraud networks using cryptocurrency as their primary conduit for theft.
