Kanpur Police have dismantled a sprawling multi-crore cyber fraud network allegedly run by an MBA graduate, which duped entrepreneurs across India and multiple foreign countries through promises of fake international trade deals. The scam, estimated to have defrauded victims of over ₹50 crore, operated under the guise of a legitimate call centre and employed over 150 people.
Disclosing details on Friday, DCP Crime SM Qasim Abidi revealed that the call centre, located in a commercial building opposite Green Park Stadium in the Civil Lines area, functioned under the names Webixy Technologies Private Limited and Global Trade Plaza. The operation came to light after whistleblower Jitendra Kumar, an employee of the firm, alerted the police.
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Police arrested Pulkit Dwivedi, the alleged mastermind, on Thursday evening. Authorities are searching for his partner, Satyakam Sahu, and other accomplices.
Sophisticated Scam Model
Investigators found that Dwivedi and Sahu, after completing their MBAs in Mumbai, launched the company in 2020. They extracted global business data from open-source websites and targeted entrepreneurs in the US, UK, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia. Victims were lured with fake branding opportunities and large international orders.
The scheme’s first step was a ₹60,000 “registration fee.” Once victims were convinced, scammers posed as foreign clients and demanded up to ₹4 lakh for a fabricated “trade letter.”
The operation had a highly structured hierarchy, with employees working in isolated teams to prevent leaks. Staff were bound by strict contractual agreements lasting from one to four years, making whistleblowing difficult.
Daily Revenue in Lakhs
According to police, the racket generated between ₹10 lakh and ₹20 lakh daily. Six bank accounts linked to the scam have been frozen, containing ₹4.5 crore. Authorities suspect the actual fraud amount will rise substantially as more victims come forward.
Investigations are ongoing, with police warning that the case highlights the growing sophistication of organized cyber fraud targeting business networks worldwide.
