Four Cyber Criminals Arrested for Multi-Crore Online Gaming Fraud

A significant case of fraud involving millions of rupees has emerged in Etawah District, India, leading to the arrest of four individuals linked to international cyber crime. The suspects were allegedly involved in scamming people through online gaming platforms and are reported to have connections with cyber criminals operating in countries such as China, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. The investigation was initiated after the National Cyber Crime Bureau received a total of 32 complaints, highlighting the scale of the fraudulent activities.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Yash Pratap Singh (25) from Sahatwar, Ballia district; Yash Arya (25) from Hari Bihar Colony, Kotwali, Jhansi district; Himanshu Sharma (23) from Madain, Badpura; and Himanshu Chaudhary (24) from Jagdishpur, Ahmadgarh, Bulandshahr district. According to the police, evidence gathered from their mobile phones revealed communications with foreign fraudsters, discussing transactions potentially worth 100 crore rupees.

During questioning, the suspects claimed they were residing in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, preparing for the NDA exams but were lured into cyber crime by the prospect of quick financial gains. The investigation led to the discovery of an Indonesian SIM card among the suspects, further indicating their international connections.

Police Chief Brajesh Kumar reported that the complaints received spanned multiple Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Kerala, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. The arrests were executed after a tip-off about the suspects’ location on Khwaja Road late Saturday night.

Upon their arrest, authorities recovered a substantial amount of evidence, including six mobile phones, a pen drive, three passbooks, seven cheque books, two Aadhaar cards, a Metrocard, three PAN cards, 13 ATM cards, a driving licence, three QR codes, a motorcycle, and a car. Additionally, about Rs 80 lakh was found in a Bandhan Bank account linked to the criminal activities.

In recognition of the efforts of the police team involved in the arrests, SSP Brajesh Kumar announced a reward of Rs 15,000. The swift action taken by law enforcement underscores the ongoing challenges posed by cyber crime in India and the need for continued vigilance in the digital space.

As investigations continue, authorities are working to trace additional connections and recover losses incurred by victims of these fraudulent schemes.