Kaushambi: Kaushambi Police have busted an organised online fraud racket involving impersonation of police officers and illegal extortion, arresting three accused following a cyber investigation. The accused allegedly posed as police officials and duped victims by demanding money online on the pretext of recovering missing persons.
According to police records, the case came to light on December 24, 2025, when a resident of the Saini police station area lodged a complaint alleging that unidentified persons had cheated him of ₹50,000. The complainant stated that the accused contacted him while posing as police officers and claimed that his missing daughter had been traced, demanding money online in exchange for her recovery.
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Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Saini police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Given the seriousness of the offence, the Superintendent of Police directed the Cyber Police Station to take over the investigation and ensure early detection and arrest of those involved.
Using technical analysis, mobile surveillance and electronic evidence, the cyber police team collected substantial digital inputs. During the course of investigation, provisions under the Information Technology Act were also added to the case.
Three Accused Arrested
On January 21, 2026, police arrested three accused from the Katera police station area of Jhansi district. The arrested individuals have been identified as Deependra Yadav, Pradeep Kumar and Ajay Kumar. All three were produced before the competent court after completion of necessary legal formalities.
Police records indicate that complaints related to online fraud have also been registered against the accused on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, suggesting that the group had been involved in similar activities earlier as well.
Modus Operandi Revealed During Interrogation
During sustained interrogation, the accused revealed that they used the UP COP mobile application to download First Information Reports from various police stations. They specifically shortlisted FIRs related to missing girls or boys.
The accused further disclosed that they accessed official government websites to obtain names and mobile numbers of village heads or village secretaries. Posing as police officers, they would contact these local representatives and convey false information that a missing person from their village had been traced.
Through these intermediaries, the accused would then contact the victim’s family, misleading them into believing that the missing person had been found. They would demand money online in the name of recovery-related expenses, directing victims to transfer funds into multiple bank accounts that had been fraudulently opened.
In the present case, the accused followed the same method using an FIR from Saini police station area of Kaushambi district and managed to extort ₹50,000 from the complainant.
Fraud Across Multiple States
Interrogation also revealed that the accused were not confined to a single district or state. They allegedly accessed FIRs from other states using various applications and targeted victims in a similar manner.
In addition to impersonating police officers, the accused admitted to posing as CBI officials in some cases, threatening victims with arrest on allegations of viewing obscene videos. In other instances, they claimed that mobile numbers had won lottery prizes, using inducement and fear tactics to extract money.
Recoveries and Ongoing Investigation
Police have recovered five Android mobile phones, one Apple iPhone, three ATM cards, eleven Aadhaar cards and eight SIM cards from the possession of the accused. All seized items are being subjected to forensic examination to trace additional victims and financial trails linked to the racket.
Kaushambi Police have urged the public to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be police or government officials and demanding money online. Citizens have been advised to verify such claims through local police stations or report suspicious activity to cyber helplines immediately.
Police officials stated that further investigation is underway to identify other associates of the gang and to ascertain the full scale of the fraud network.
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.
