Agra Police Crack Down on Major Online Betting and Cyberfraud Operation
In a significant crackdown on digital crime, Agra Police have arrested four individuals for allegedly running a sophisticated online betting and cyberfraud racket that involved transactions totaling nearly Rs 10 crore. The operation was uncovered in Agra's Sikandra area, where authorities acted on specific intelligence to dismantle the illegal network.
Substantial Seizures and Arrest Details
During the raid conducted late on Saturday night, police seized substantial evidence including:
- 72 ATM cards linked to multiple individuals and various banks
- 18 SIM cards obtained through fraudulent means
- 14 mobile phones used in the operation
- Two laptops containing crucial digital evidence
- Multiple cheque books and passbooks
- Four forged Aadhaar cards used for identity fraud
- Rs 2.16 lakh in cash recovered from the premises
The arrested individuals have been identified as Himanshu Singh, Ashish Kumar, Suraj Singh, and Ramu Singh, all residents of Firozabad district and in their 20s. The arrests were made from a flat in Ashok Vihar following a tip-off about suspicious activities in the area.
Modus Operandi and Investigation Findings
According to police officials, the accused operated a complex fraud scheme where they would lure or cheat people from different states to open bank accounts and obtain SIM cards under false pretenses. These accounts and SIM cards were then systematically used to route cyber fraud proceeds.
Additional DCP (Agra) Aditya revealed that cyber surveillance teams had received specific inputs about accounts being opened in the names of unsuspecting individuals. "The accused developed a sophisticated network where they would manipulate people into providing their personal documents, which were then misused for criminal activities," he explained.
The group had developed a pattern of withdrawing fraud proceeds from nearby ATMs during night hours to avoid detection. This systematic approach allowed them to operate their racket for an extended period before authorities intercepted their activities.
Legal Proceedings and International Links
A formal case has been registered at Sikandra police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 61(2) for criminal conspiracy
- Section 318(4) for cheating
- Section 336(3) for forgery
Preliminary investigation has uncovered that while the arrested individuals were executing the ground operations, the mastermind of the operation is believed to be based in Firozabad. More concerning is the revelation that technical support for the cyberfraud activities was being provided by an associate operating from Dubai, indicating potential international dimensions to the crime.
The police investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the network and identify all individuals involved in what appears to be a well-organized digital crime syndicate operating across multiple jurisdictions.
