In a telling reflection of India’s intensifying battle against cyber fraud, the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested three men involved in a sophisticated digital arrest scam that duped a 71-year-old woman of ₹49 lakh.
The arrests were the result of coordinated raids across Delhi, Gurgaon, and a remote location in Hisar—part of an ongoing nationwide effort to dismantle digital crime syndicates exploiting citizens through online intimidation and fake investment schemes.
Despite increased vigilance and proactive policing, cybercriminals continue to display relentless determination, adapting quickly and preying on vulnerable individuals who fall into their digital traps.
The Scams
Police revealed that the accused were linked to two major cases of fraud. In the first case, scammers contacted a senior citizen through a video call, impersonating police and government officials.
They allegedly threatened legal action and coerced her into transferring ₹49 lakh under psychological pressure.
In another case, a 43-year-old stationery shop owner was cheated of ₹39.5 lakh after being lured into investing in a fabricated cryptocurrency platform promising high returns.
The Arrests & Modus Operandi
The suspects had been constantly shifting locations to evade capture, but sustained technical surveillance and ground intelligence eventually led police teams to Gurgaon and Hisar.
The arrested accused were identified as:
- Ravi (19) from Hisar — a Class 12 student pursuing a nursing assistant course, who opened and sold mule accounts used to route fraudulent funds.
- Mandeep (21), also from Hisar — a DJ by profession, who facilitated the sale of the mule account.
- Kaleem (32) from Delhi’s Tughlakabad Extension — a carpenter who opened a mule account under the name of a fictitious business entity.
According to DCP (Crime Branch) Aditya Gautam, the syndicate operated by posing as officials of law enforcement and government agencies to extort money under the threat of arrest, while also running fake investment portals promising high financial returns.
The stolen funds were moved through multiple layers of bank accounts and swiftly withdrawn via ATMs. Unemployed or financially insecure youth were recruited to operate the mule accounts in exchange for a share of the proceeds.
The Investigation Continues
Police stated that further technical analysis, digital forensics, and financial tracking are underway to identify more linked accounts and individuals within the network.
While cyber policing has become increasingly aggressive and smarter, the swelling sophistication and persistence of online fraud networks continue to pose a formidable challenge.
It is a digital battleground where every victory for law enforcement is met with newer forms of deception from cybercriminals.
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