Varanasi Police have busted a cyber fraud gang that was allegedly cheating people by showing fake gold and bundles of currency notes online. One member of the gang, active in the Bharatpur area under Badagaon Police Station limits, has been arrested, while two of his associates managed to escape from the spot. Police are conducting raids to trace the absconding accused.
The racket came to light during the investigation of a complaint filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Ricky Roshan, a cyber café operator from the Bharatpur area, had reported that a suspicious transaction of ₹15,300 had taken place in his bank account on July 17. Following the transaction, the bank placed a hold on his account and froze the amount as a precautionary measure.
During the investigation, police found that a youth had taken cash from the cyber café operator by showing a fake online payment through a QR code. Later, action was initiated by the bank regarding the suspicious transaction. A few days after the incident, the same person returned to the cyber café and demanded cash again after showing an online payment.
The cyber café operator recognised the accused and immediately raised an alarm. Local residents gathered at the spot and caught the accused, while two other youths who had accompanied him managed to flee. After receiving information, a police team reached the location and took the accused into custody.
During interrogation, the arrested accused was identified as 40-year-old Alok Singh, a resident of Gopalapur under the Rampur Police Station area of Jaunpur district. According to police, the accused revealed that he, along with his associates Hemant Singh and Satish Singh, used to cheat people by showing fake gold and bundles of currency notes through online platforms.
The investigation also revealed that on July 17, the accused had allegedly cheated another person of around ₹85,000 by showing fake gold online. The accused had come to the cyber café to convert the money obtained through the fraud into cash. The alertness of the cyber café operator helped expose the entire gang.
According to police, the accused targeted victims by exploiting their greed and trust. They allegedly claimed to offer gold items or large amounts of cash through digital platforms and convinced people to transfer money or provide cash. Investigators are now collecting details about other members of the gang and their possible links.
Cyber crime experts said criminals are increasingly combining traditional fraud methods with digital platforms to target victims. Fake gold deals, investment schemes, old currency exchange offers and promises of quick financial gains are commonly used to pressure people into making immediate payments. Experts advised people to verify the authenticity of any online offer or transaction before transferring money.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said cyber criminals are adopting new techniques by combining traditional cheating methods with digital tools. He said criminals are using fake identities, online payment systems and social engineering techniques to target people. Immediate reporting, preservation of digital evidence and timely communication with banking channels are crucial in such cases.
Police have registered a case against the arrested accused under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Meanwhile, raids are being conducted to arrest absconding accused Hemant Singh and Satish Singh. Police have appealed to people not to transfer money without verification in response to online deals, investment offers or promises of financial benefits.
