Greater Noida: The Noida unit of the Special Task Force (STF) has unearthed an organised interstate online betting fraud racket operating under the guise of a call centre, arresting six accused. In a significant development, a mobile phone recovered from the suspects has been found linked to the recovery email used in threatening messages sent to several Noida schools, intensifying the probe into a possible connection between cyber fraud and the email threats.
According to investigators, the accused were running an illegal online betting network from rented premises in Indirapuram (Ghaziabad) and Shahberi (Greater Noida). Using VPNs, fake GPS location tools and email IDs resembling foreign identities, they lured victims into investing in betting platforms and siphoned off large sums of money.
Technical trail from threat emails
Threatening emails were sent to multiple schools in Gautam Buddh Nagar on January 23, following which a case was registered at the Cyber Crime police station and handed over to the STF. Technical analysis showed the emails originated from the United States, while the linked recovery email had digital footprints in Bangladesh and India. The trail eventually led to a location in Shahberi, where STF conducted a raid and arrested six individuals.
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Betting operations run like a call centre
During the raid, STF recovered a large number of electronic devices. Interrogation revealed that the accused not only promoted illegal betting apps but also provided technical support to such platforms. Operating like a call centre, they targeted victims in the United States, India and Nepal, promising high returns and persuading them to transfer money.
Three Nepalese nationals among accused
Those arrested include both Indian and Nepalese nationals: Amish Jung Karki, Anant Kumar, Divyanshu, Sahil Kumar, Lekhnath Sharma and Kedarnath. Police seized four laptops, 22 mobile phones, multiple debit and credit cards, fake Aadhaar and PAN cards, Nepalese passports, a cheque book and other incriminating documents.
The alleged kingpin, Amish Jung Karki, holds a BBA degree from Australia and had previously worked with a gaming company. Investigators said several members of the gang are well-educated and used their technical skills to operate a structured cyber fraud network.
Concealing identity and location
STF officials said the accused used VPN services and fake GPS applications to mask their real locations and evade surveillance. Dozens of fake email IDs were found logged into their devices, which were used for victim outreach and transaction tracking.
Probe into foreign links and money trail
The recovered mobile phone has been sent for forensic examination to determine whether there is a direct link between the betting racket and the school threat emails. STF is also analysing bank accounts, digital wallets and cross-border transactions to trace where the defrauded money was routed and how many victims were targeted.
More arrests likely
A case has been registered under relevant legal provisions, and further arrests are expected as investigators track other members, possible foreign handlers and the financial network behind the operation.
Officials described the bust as a major blow to the rapidly growing online betting and cyber fraud ecosystem in Delhi-NCR. Investigative agencies believe such tech-enabled criminal networks pose a serious threat not only to economic security but also to public safety, especially when linked to activities like mass threat emails.
