The Cyber Police Station of Kaushambi district has arrested three persons for allegedly posing as police officers and cheating victims by falsely claiming to have traced missing persons, officials said on Tuesday. The accused reportedly used forged identities and digital tools to extort money from unsuspecting victims through online transactions.
According to the police, the case came to light on December 24, 2025, when a resident of Banpurwa Majra, under Saini police station limits, lodged a complaint alleging that he had been cheated of ₹50,000. The complainant stated that unknown persons contacted him over the phone, impersonated themselves as Station House Officers (SHO), and claimed that a missing girl had been recovered. In lieu of “official expenses”, the accused allegedly demanded and received ₹50,000 through online transfer.
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered at Saini police station under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Considering the seriousness of the offence, the Superintendent of Police, Kaushambi, directed the Cyber Police Station to conduct an immediate investigation and ensure the arrest of those involved.
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Use of Technology to Track Accused
During the investigation, the cyber police team used mobile surveillance, electronic evidence, and other technical resources to identify the accused. Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which deals with cheating by personation using computer resources, was also added to the case after sufficient evidence was collected.
Following the probe, three accused were arrested on January 21, 2026. They have been identified as:
- Deependra Yadav, son of Santosh Kumar, resident of Bus Stand Katera, Katera police station, Jhansi
- Pradeep Kumar, son of Ratiram, resident of Khoriyana Ka Dhek, Katera police station, Jhansi
- Ajay Kumar, son of Ramcharan, resident of Moriyana Ka Dhek, Katera police station, Jhansi
After completing the necessary legal formalities, the accused were produced before the competent court.
Modus Operandi Revealed During Interrogation
During interrogation, the accused revealed that they downloaded FIR copies using various applications, including the UP COP app. They specifically targeted FIRs related to missing persons—both boys and girls. After extracting the names and addresses of victims, the accused obtained contact details of village heads or secretaries from official government websites such as the Panchayati Raj portal.
Using these contacts, they would call family members of victims while impersonating police officers and falsely claim that the missing person had been found. The accused would then demand money under the pretext of official expenses and instruct victims to deposit funds into bank accounts opened using forged or fraudulently obtained documents.
Police further stated that the accused admitted to carrying out evidence-based cyber fraud across multiple states using similar techniques. In addition to impersonating police or CBI officials, they also used other tactics, such as threatening people with false allegations of watching obscene videos, promising lottery winnings, or declaring victims as “lucky winners” to extort money.
Recovery and Past Complaints
The cyber police recovered five Android mobile phones, one Apple iPhone, three ATM cards, eleven Aadhaar cards, and eight SIM cards from the accused. Officials also noted that two prior online fraud complaints against the accused had already been registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
Police have reiterated their appeal to the public to verify any such claims directly with local police stations and avoid transferring money based on phone calls from unknown persons claiming to be law enforcement officials.
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.
