A high-tech cyber fraud ring operating from an isolated homestay in Basuli has sent shockwaves through Uttarakhand’s law enforcement agencies. With six arrests and links to pan-India scams unearthed, the hunt now intensifies for the alleged mastermind, Sachin Mittal, as officials warn of a broader digital deception network exploiting unemployed youth and bypassing surveillance.
Cracking the Web: Homestay Turns Cybercrime Hub
The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttarakhand, alongside the Cyber Police and Kathgodam Police, recently uncovered a sophisticated cybercrime ring operating under the guise of a homestay in Basuli village. The raid revealed a fully equipped cybercrime control room, exposing digital evidence that linked the setup to a larger pan-India fraud network. The operation led to the arrest of six individuals, all under 30, allegedly involved in phishing scams, investment fraud, and identity theft.
Acting on prior inputs, the STF’s digital forensic team recovered SIM cards, fake IDs, account kits, and high-speed internet equipment, including Jio Fibre, confirming the location’s use as a cyber fraud base. Inspector MP Singh stated that the arrested individuals were acting as money mules and account handlers. But the real aim now is to trace Sachin Mittal, believed to be funding and directing the operation.
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The six men arrested, hailing from Bhimtal, Mukteshwar, Kathgodam, Kannauj (UP), and Haldwani, used documents of unemployed youth and daily wage workers to open fraudulent bank accounts. Lured with promises of quick commissions, they earned by facilitating fund transfers for scams involving fake parcels, phishing emails, and stolen card credentials.
SSP Manikant Mishra likened the gang’s modus operandi to that of drug syndicates: Only now, the drug is data and deception. The official revealed that over the past 18 months, Uttarakhand alone has registered 365 cyber fraud cases, with ₹10.83 crore refunded to victims. The rising number of such incidents reflects the rapidly growing lure of digital crime among unemployed youth, especially in tier-2 towns.
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This bust follows a string of cyber frauds traced back to Uttarakhand. In December 2024, Canara Bank’s senior manager filed a complaint after two men opened multiple accounts for ₹50,000 commission, moving ₹28.80 crore in six days. In March, two men from Rudrapur earned ₹1.2 crore by opening fraudulent accounts linked to a Telegram gang. In May, Chennai Police arrested two operators from Jaspur involved in a ₹1.39 crore scam, and on May 29, seven more were caught for renting bank accounts.
Saurabh Tiwari, one of the handlers, allegedly procured account kits and SIMs via speed post. These were delivered to key operatives, evading direct detection. None of the seized documents contained real names, pointing to a deliberate strategy of obfuscation. The use of social media for coordination and luring agents underscores the network’s reliance on decentralized, low-cost technology to execute high-value frauds.
About the author – Prakriti Jha is a student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, currently pursuing B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) with a keen interest in the intersection of law and data science. She is passionate about exploring how legal frameworks adapt to the evolving challenges of technology and justice.