Delhi Police Dismantles Interstate Cyber Fraud Syndicate; Six Arrested for ₹3.76 Crore Scam
The Delhi Police has arrested six persons for allegedly duping a Delhi-based real estate developer of ₹3.76 crore through a sophisticated fake stock market investment scam, dismantling what investigators describe as an interstate cyber fraud syndicate with foreign-based handlers.
Police said the accused were arrested between January 9 and January 14 following coordinated raids across Mumbai, Kota, Noida, and Lucknow, after months of digital forensics and financial trail analysis. The syndicate, officers said, operated a fraudulent online trading platform, using manipulated dashboards, doctored profit screenshots, and constant follow-ups to lure victims into repeatedly investing larger sums.
The case came to light in September 2025, when the victim, identified as Krishan Kumar, approached police after realizing that the investment scheme he had joined was fictitious. According to investigators, Kumar had been drawn to an “online stock trading platform” that promised assured, high-yield returns.
“Once he joined, the platform nudged him to invest more through its slick interface and daily profit updates. For nearly a month, he was shown screenshots reflecting steady gains on his so-called trading account,” a police officer said. When Kumar attempted to withdraw his funds, he was allegedly told he would have to pay an additional fee to process the withdrawal. Shortly thereafter, the fraudsters stopped responding to his calls.
An FIR was registered on September 15, and the probe was transferred to the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police.
How the Syndicate Operated
Investigators said the syndicate relied on a network of fake investment platforms, encrypted messaging applications, and mule bank accounts to siphon money from victims across states. Once funds were transferred, the amounts were quickly layered through multiple accounts to erase the trail and complicate recovery efforts.
The breakthrough came when police traced one transaction of ₹10 lakh to a first-layer mule account held by Sablu Kumar, a resident of Navi Mumbai. Initial searches in Mumbai did not yield results, but sustained tracking led police to Kota, Rajasthan, where he was arrested on January 9.
“Based on disclosures made during interrogation, we tracked another accused, Wasim Ahmad, from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh,” said Vineet Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO). Wasim was arrested from Jangpura in southeast Delhi on January 11, along with three associates — Rajesh Khan, Sahid Ali, and Mannu Issar.
Forensic examination of their mobile phones revealed details of multiple mule accounts, SIM cards, and transaction logs used to route defrauded money, police said.
The sixth accused, Manish Kumar, was arrested on January 14. Police said he played a crucial role in managing fund flows and supplying bank accounts, not just for investment scams but also for so-called ‘digital arrest’ frauds. Analysis of his WhatsApp chats allegedly revealed links to bank accounts connected to at least 52 cybercrime complaints registered across multiple states.
Foreign Handlers, Wider Network Under Lens
According to investigators, the arrested men were primarily responsible for procuring, operating, and managing mule bank accounts on a large scale, acting on instructions from handlers believed to be operating from abroad. Police said efforts are underway to identify and trace these overseas controllers, while additional arrests are likely.
Officials cautioned that the case highlights the growing sophistication of online investment frauds, where victims are targeted through social media and messaging platforms, shown fabricated gains, and psychologically nudged to invest more before being locked out.
Police have urged citizens to verify investment platforms, avoid unsolicited trading tips on WhatsApp or Telegram, and report suspicious activity immediately. The investigation is ongoing.
