The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh has successfully apprehended two cybercriminals involved in an organized cyber fraud racket. The accused, in collaboration with Chinese nationals, were operating fraudulent schemes through digital arrest, gaming, and trading applications. Their activities primarily focused on scamming victims and laundering money through mule accounts. The arrest took place on February 25, 2025, in Gautam Buddha Nagar.
Modus Operandi:
The criminals were engaged in large-scale financial fraud by exploiting gaming and trading applications. Their primary method involved digital arrest, where they falsely detained victims using digital platforms and coerced them into financial transactions. They worked with Chinese handlers and utilized Telegram channels to communicate and distribute fraudulent funds.
Key Methods Used:
- They hired mule account holders across India, paying commissions to individuals willing to allow illicit transactions through their bank accounts.
- The fraudulent money was transferred to USDT (Tether) cryptocurrency wallets, which were later converted into cash.
- They used Chinese messaging apps to facilitate illegal banking transactions.
- API tools were used to connect victims’ bank accounts, allowing fraudsters to transfer money remotely.
- OTPs received on registered mobile numbers were automatically shared with foreign handlers via pre-installed Chinese applications.
Nominations are open for Honouring Women in Cyberspace on International Women’s Day 2025- Nominate Now!
Arrest and Seizure:
The STF arrested two accused individuals:
- Rohan Agarwal (29 years old) – Resident of Prayagraj.
- Harsh Vardhan Gupta (28 years old) – Resident of Kanpur.
Items Recovered from the Accused:
- 14 debit/credit cards
- 3 Aadhaar cards
- 1 PAN card
- 1 Driving license
- 1 Passport
- 7 Mobile phones
- Rs 4,00,000 in cash
- Multiple documents related to cyber fraud
The accused were taken into custody and have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and IT Act.
Team Led By:
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rajkumar Mishra and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Navendu Kumar. The field operation was led by Inspector and Sub-Inspector of STF Noida Unit.
Empanelment for Speakers, Trainers, and Cyber Security Experts Opens at Future Crime Research Foundation
Name of Police Station:
The case has been registered at Surajpur Police Station, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, under FIR No. 98/2025, with charges under sections 318, 338, 340, 61(2), 3(5) of the IPC and Section 66D of the IT Act.
Further Investigation:
The STF is now tracing other members of the syndicate, including 150 mule account holders involved in laundering money through fraudulent transactions. Authorities have identified over 471 complaints on the NCRP (National Cybercrime Reporting Portal) linked to the racket, with victims across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.
The arrested individuals are in judicial custody, and further legal proceedings are underway.
Follow The420.in on
Telegram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube
