The Cyber Crime Team of the Varanasi Police Commissionerate made a significant breakthrough on Wednesday by arresting two cyber criminals and dismantling a gang involved in illegally withdrawing money from people's bank accounts. The operation led to the recovery of mobile phones used in the crimes, forged Aadhaar cards, and cash.
Complaint and Investigation
According to police officials, the case began when Shivdatt Harijan, a resident of Ballia currently living in Police Lines, filed a complaint at the Cyber Crime police station on May 24. He reported that Rs. 12 lakh had been fraudulently siphoned from his bank account through cyber fraud. In response, a special team was formed under the supervision of ACP Cyber Crime Vidush Saxena. The team acted swiftly and apprehended two suspects from Varanasi.
Identification of the Accused
The arrested individuals were identified as Surendra Kumar, a resident of Mohammadabad in Ghazipur, and Vinay Kumar, a resident of Ballia. Police investigations revealed that the gang's modus operandi involved duplicating SIM cards linked to the mobile numbers associated with victims' bank accounts, under the pretext of updating account details. Once the SIM was duplicated, the accused activated UPI applications on their own devices. Using forged Aadhaar cards and other fake identity documents, they withdrew cash from various Customer Service Point (CSP) centers and divided the proceeds among themselves.
Legal Action
A case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the law. The police continue to investigate to identify other members of the gang and prevent further fraudulent activities. This arrest highlights the importance of vigilance and prompt action in tackling cyber crimes.
