By BK Singh
In a significant breakthrough, the Prayagraj Cyber Cell on Wednesday arrested five members of a sophisticated interstate cyber crime syndicate operating out of Delhi. The gang is accused of duping unsuspecting individuals of more than ₹28.62 lakh by subjecting them to what officials call “digital arrest” — a manipulative and terrifying method of online extortion.
One of the victims, Harsh Bhatt from Dhumanganj, Prayagraj, was virtually confined and psychologically manipulated for three consecutive days before he was coerced into transferring the hefty sum. This shocking case brought the gang’s elaborate fraud operation to light.
Arrested Accused and Seized Assets
The arrested cyber criminals include:
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Kaustubh Gupta (Jalaun)
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Bhanu Saini (Saharanpur)
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Anurag (Delhi)
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Shani Jha (Kanpur)
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Himanshu Kumar (Etawah)
Police also seized:
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7 mobile phones
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3 luxury SUVs (including a Range Rover, a Mercedes Benz, and a Tata Safari)
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14 SIM cards
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1 ATM card
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A POS machine
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5 cheque books
This bust adds to a previous series of arrests made across India in connection with the same syndicate.
The Modus Operandi: Psychological Torture with Technological Precision
Victims were contacted by impostors pretending to be agents from FedEx International Courier. These impostors claimed that a suspicious parcel bound for Iran — allegedly containing narcotics — was intercepted, and that it bore the victim’s identity documents. They further intensified the fear by alleging links to terrorism and illegal activities.
Then came the second phase — an alleged Crime Branch “officer” would initiate a call via Skype. The victims, fearing legal consequences and imprisonment, would be manipulated into transferring their life savings.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to having ties with cyber criminals based in countries such as Laos, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Thailand. They coordinated via encrypted messaging apps like Telegram.
Global Syndicate, Local Tragedy
This operation ran on two parallel models:
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Foreign-Initiated Scams: Cyber thugs operating abroad used Indian agents to target citizens with phishing, investment scams, gaming frauds, fake WhatsApp profiles of celebrities and businessmen, and emotional manipulation — such as the digital arrest trick.
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Banking Mules and OTP Hijack: Indian collaborators were lured into sharing access to their bank accounts in exchange for commission. With sophisticated tools like OTP forwarder apps, the fraudsters hijacked transactions in real time. The stolen money was often transferred via cryptocurrency (USDT) to avoid detection.
The scammers covered their digital footprints using VPNs and IP bouncing techniques, making it extremely difficult for law enforcement agencies to track them.
Another Victim: The Tragic Tale of Yash
Amid this, another heartbreaking story emerged — that of Yash, a diligent university student in Prayagraj. A fraudster, pretending to be an old classmate, emotionally manipulated him into believing his mother was critically ill at Medanta Hospital and needed emergency funds.
Yash, unlike many of his peers, had managed to save ₹20,000. He transferred the money without hesitation. Later, persuaded by more fake calls and heart-wrenching pleas, he borrowed money from his friends and sent even more.
When Yash realised he had been scammed, he approached the Cyber Crime Cell. Although the call was traced to Rajasthan, the officer helplessly admitted that catching cyber criminals in remote states was nearly impossible. “Forget the money,” the officer reportedly told him. “They are too far ahead.”
The Harsh Reality: Law Enforcement Falling Behind
Despite this recent bust being celebrated as a major success, senior officers admit that such syndicates continue to operate with impunity. Thousands of Indians fall prey to similar schemes every day — from fake customs officers promising million-dollar parcels from abroad to emotional blackmailers exploiting compassion.
As one senior DIG of Customs, speaking on condition of anonymity, said:
“Scammers are now impersonating customs officials, claiming you have a parcel from overseas worth crores. All you need to do is pay a few thousand rupees in ‘clearance fees.’ What most people don’t know is that Customs never makes such calls.”
A Wake-Up Call for Authorities and Citizens Alike
While the Prayagraj Police’s recent arrests are commendable, the broader truth is alarming. Cyber fraudsters are evolving faster than law enforcement’s ability to catch them. Inter-state cooperation is minimal, and global cyber laws are not stringent or aligned enough to take down these digital mafias.
There is an urgent need for:
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A centralised inter-agency cybercrime task force
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Speedy grievance redressal for victims
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Massive public awareness campaigns
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Advanced training for local cyber cells