Follow us on Google News
Varanasi Police have arrested three men accused of running an interstate online betting racket that allegedly cheated people of more than ₹8.14 crore. The suspects reportedly used a Telegram group to attract players with promises of doubling their money through banned online ludo betting. Police have linked the accused to 19 cybercrime complaints across nine states.
Who Was Arrested in the Crackdown?
The Cybercrime Cell of the Varanasi Police Commissionerate and Sarnath Police arrested the suspects on Friday. They were identified as Sagar Sethi, Mangal Kumar and Sudeep Kashyap, all residents of Shiv Vihar Colony in Aktha, Sarnath.
Police recovered four mobile phones from their possession and obtained details of seven bank accounts allegedly connected to the operation.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cyber) Apoorva Pandey said the gang had targeted people across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
https://the420.in/fcrf-certified-chief-ai-officer-second-cohort-november-2026/
Investigators identified 19 complaints linked to the accused, involving alleged losses totalling ₹8,14,63,918.94. Authorities have also frozen ₹1,46,828.98 remaining in seven bank accounts associated with the case.
The complaints indicate that the suspected operation extended beyond Varanasi, with victims reporting fraudulent activities in several parts of the country.
How Did the Online Ludo Betting Scam Work?
According to police, the accused operated through a Telegram group named “New Ludo Parivar”, where people were encouraged to participate in banned online ludo betting.
Members were allegedly attracted with promises that their investments could double within a short period. After joining the group, they were persuaded to transfer money to participate in the betting activities.
The collected funds were reportedly deposited directly into the accused persons’ bank accounts through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions.
Police said the operators deducted an illegal commission from the money received and returned the remaining amount to players, presenting these payments as profits. This arrangement allegedly created the impression that participants were earning money, encouraging them to continue depositing funds.
Investigators believe the method helped the accused attract players and collect substantial amounts through the online betting operation.
How Can People Avoid Similar Online Scams?
The case highlights the risks of online betting groups that promise unusually high returns within a short period.
Cybercriminals may use messaging platforms to attract participants and create misleading impressions of profits through repeated payments.
People should take the following precautions:
- Avoid Telegram groups promising quick or guaranteed profits.
- Never transfer money to unknown UPI accounts for online betting.
- Verify the legitimacy of any online financial offer before paying.
- Do not trust screenshots or messages claiming guaranteed returns.
- Report suspected financial fraud promptly to your bank and the police.
The Varanasi crackdown highlights how promises of quick profits can be used to draw people into suspected financial fraud networks operating across multiple states.
