Delhi: A tea seller from Delhi’s South Patel Nagar allegedly lost ₹90,000 after being targeted by a fraudster posing as an executive of a digital payment application in a fake KYC verification scam. Following the complaint, Delhi Police unearthed an interstate cyber fraud network and arrested three alleged operatives involved in supplying bank accounts, SIM cards and ATM credentials used in multiple cybercrime cases.
According to police officials, the accused approached the victim at his tea stall under the guise of assisting him with Know Your Customer (KYC) formalities linked to a digital payment platform. During the interaction, the fraudster allegedly gained access to the victim’s mobile phone and banking details before siphoning off ₹90,000 from his account.
After the complaint was lodged on May 15, investigators launched a probe and tracked suspicious financial transactions linked to beneficiary bank accounts allegedly used to route the cheated money. The investigation subsequently led police to an organised interstate network involved in circulating banking kits and registered SIM cards for cyber fraud syndicates operating across several states.
During the investigation, police identified one of the alleged account handlers, Vishesh Singh, a resident of Panchkula in Haryana, who was suspected of arranging bank accounts and SIM cards used in fraudulent activities. Further technical analysis and local intelligence inputs helped investigators trace additional members of the network operating from Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
Acting on the leads, Delhi Police conducted coordinated raids in Panchkula, Zirakpur and nearby areas before arresting three accused on May 19. The arrested individuals have been identified as Vishesh Singh (22), Sachin Maurya (22), both residents of Panchkula, and Ashish Sharma (27) from Una district in Himachal Pradesh.
Police said the accused allegedly worked as intermediaries who procured and supplied bank accounts, ATM cards, SIM cards and related banking credentials to cyber fraud syndicates. Investigators suspect these accounts were later used as mule accounts to receive and transfer cheated money in online fraud cases across different states.
Officials said four mobile phones were recovered during the operation. Preliminary forensic examination of the seized devices reportedly revealed chats related to bank account circulation, commission sharing, coordination with suspected cyber fraud associates and social media communications linked to the transfer of banking kits.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly earned commissions for arranging bank accounts and other banking tools used by cybercriminals. Police also suspect that several mobile numbers, beneficiary accounts and social media profiles linked to the accused may have connections to other complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
Delhi Police said further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the network, trace the money trail and establish links with other interstate cyber fraud operations.
