Muzaffarnagar: A major cyber fraud racket involving online investment scams and social media manipulation has been exposed in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar, where cyber crime investigators arrested another member of an organised gang accused of cheating victims of more than ₹1 crore. Authorities said the accused, Mohammad Aqib Ali, was arrested while visiting an associate lodged in district jail. Investigators believe the network used fake identities, emotional manipulation and multiple bank accounts to siphon off money from victims across several states.
The Facebook Trap and Deceptive WhatsApp Groups
According to the investigation, the victim, Dinesh Chand Sharma, a former consultant director associated with a paper mill business, received a Facebook friend request from a woman identifying herself as “Geetika Kapoor alias Gigi.” Officials said the accused gradually built an emotional connection with the victim through online conversations before introducing him to an allegedly fraudulent online trading and investment platform.
Investigators stated that the gang used WhatsApp groups, fabricated investment reports and fake profit screenshots to gain the victim’s confidence. After convincing him that the investment platform was generating high returns, the accused allegedly persuaded him to transfer money into multiple bank accounts over different dates. Authorities said the victim ultimately transferred nearly ₹1.01 crore before realising that he had been duped.
Arrest and Recovery of Digital Evidence
During the operation, investigators arrested Mohammad Aqib Ali outside the district jail premises. The accused is originally from Odisha’s Jharsuguda region and was reportedly living in Aligarh. Officials recovered two mobile phones, a laptop, nine ATM cards, three cheque books and 24 cheques from his possession. Investigators believe the seized digital devices and banking instruments could help trace the wider cyber fraud network and identify additional beneficiaries.
The investigation further revealed that the gang allegedly obtained bank accounts from individuals by offering them a one percent commission. These accounts were then used to receive money generated through cyber fraud before the funds were withdrawn using ATM cards and cheques. Authorities suspect that multiple account holders may have unknowingly become part of a larger financial laundering network.
Inter-State Network and Syndicate Links
Officials examining six bank accounts linked to the accused discovered that at least 21 cyber fraud complaints from 13 different states had been registered against them. Preliminary findings indicate that nearly ₹57.96 lakh in suspicious transactions had moved through these accounts. Investigators now suspect that the gang may have been connected to several interstate cyber fraud syndicates operating simultaneously through social media and fake investment schemes.
During questioning, the accused allegedly disclosed the names of several associates, including his brother Sadik, brother-in-law Fuzail alias Faizul, Ubaid, Shahnavaz alias Guddu and Abdul Qadir. Authorities said the group allegedly operated from a rented flat in Dehradun, where they coordinated fund transfers, handled fake investment operations and managed the withdrawal of money routed through various accounts.
Modus Operandi and Expert Warning
Investigators believe the network functioned in a highly organised manner. Victims were first targeted emotionally through social media conversations before being directed toward fake investment portals. Once money was transferred, the gang allegedly layered the transactions through multiple accounts to make the financial trail difficult to trace. Officials said forensic examination of mobile phones, banking records and digital communication channels is now underway.
Authorities confirmed that Abdul Qadir, another alleged member of the gang, had already been arrested earlier and sent to jail. Aqib Ali reportedly came to Muzaffarnagar to meet him when investigators detained him outside the prison premises. Officials said several other members of the network remain absconding and raids are being conducted to locate them.
Cyber security expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said social media friendship scams and fake online trading platforms have emerged as some of the most dangerous forms of cyber crime in recent years. According to him, fraudsters first establish emotional trust before trapping victims in fake investment schemes promising unrealistic returns. He added that people renting out their bank accounts for small commissions often become indirect participants in organised cyber laundering operations, making investigations far more complex.
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.
