The Varanasi Cyber Crime Unit has arrested three members of an inter-state cybercrime gang involved in a sophisticated ₹1.10 crore digital fraud case. The accused posed as law enforcement officials and threatened a local resident with a fake digital arrest, tricking him into transferring large sums under the pretense of an ongoing money laundering investigation.
The victim, Mahesh Prasad, a resident of Lathiya, Varanasi, was contacted by fraudsters claiming to be officers from CBI and police. They used spoofed phone numbers and fake documents to claim his identity was misused in a ₹538 crore money laundering case. Under pressure, the victim was manipulated into transferring ₹1.10 crore from his bank accounts to multiple other accounts, supposedly for investigation purposes.
Sophisticated Modus Operandi Spanned Across States
According to the police, the gang used a well-orchestrated method involving bank account mules, SIM swaps, and forged documents. The criminals first convinced individuals to open bank accounts and then took full control of their banking kits, including chequebooks, ATM cards, and passbooks. These accounts were then used to launder money obtained from cyber frauds.
The fraudsters collaborated with overseas cybercriminals and used apps and fake interfaces to show victims virtual dashboards of ongoing “investigations” or “investment returns.” The scammed funds were routed through several accounts and eventually converted into foreign currency before being transferred to handlers abroad.
Key Arrests and Recovery by Varanasi Cyber Cell
The cybercrime team arrested three accused:
- Sumit Gupta (35), from Gorakhpur
- Utkarsh Verma (35), from Lakhimpur Kheri
- Arvind Kumar Verma (37), from Gautam Buddh Nagar
These individuals had prior arrests in other cybercrime cases from Noida and Lucknow. From their possession, the police recovered:
- 8 mobile phones worth ₹3 lakh
- 13 SIM cards
- 7 ATM cards
- 1 cheque and 4 passbooks
- ₹70,000 in cash
The arrests were made under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including 318(2), 318(4), and relevant sections of the IT Act (66D).
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A dedicated team of cyber officers led by Assistant Police Commissioner Vijay Pratap Singh, under the guidance of Commissioner Mohan Agrawal and DCP Saravanan T., executed the swift crackdown. The authorities are now working on identifying and tracing the international links of the racket.
Ongoing Investigations and Public Awareness Needed
The case highlights a growing trend of cybercriminals leveraging fear and impersonation to extort money. Police have urged citizens to remain alert and verify any such threatening calls, especially those demanding payments. Further investigation is underway to trace additional gang members and identify victims across states.
