Delhi Police Trace Interstate Cyber Fraud Network Through Stolen Phone

A stolen mobile phone belonging to an 88-year-old man has helped Delhi Police uncover an alleged interstate cyber-fraud syndicate operating through a three-stage network across Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Police have arrested nine people so far and alleged that the network involved stolen mobile phones, mule bank accounts and a call-centre-like operation used to carry out unauthorised banking transactions.

The case began after the senior citizen, a resident of West Patel Nagar, reported his mobile phone stolen on May 19. Two days later, after obtaining a replacement SIM card, he received alerts showing that Rs 70,000 had been withdrawn from his bank account through three unauthorised transactions of Rs 25,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000.

The victim reported the suspected financial fraud through the National Cyber Crime Helpline, following which an FIR was registered on July 23. Police said their investigation, including financial transaction mapping and digital surveillance, led them to an alleged network with operations in Jaipur, Meerut and Ghaziabad. Investigators found that different groups were allegedly responsible for obtaining stolen phones, supplying banking credentials and carrying out transactions.

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According to police, street-level operatives allegedly stole mobile phones, while another module based in Meerut and Ghaziabad supplied mule bank accounts, debit cards, POS machines and SIM cards. A third module operating from Jaipur allegedly used the stolen devices and banking credentials to access victims' accounts before routing money through mule accounts and withdrawing or transferring the funds.

A police team raided a residential premises in Jaipur's Jhotwara and arrested Nikhil Soni, 26, described by police as the alleged main operator and technical mastermind, along with four associates -- Abishek Kumar Jha, Anand Sah Sonar, Prince Sah Sonar and Bishek Kumar Jha. Police said they found a call-centre-like setup containing laptops, tablets, routers, passbooks and diaries carrying alleged victim and transaction details, besides Rs 4 lakh in cash.

Another police team conducted raids in Meerut and Ghaziabad and arrested four alleged mule-account suppliers -- Amar Jatav, Harsh, Mohan and Vashu. Police seized 52 mobile phones, 70 debit cards, 145 SIM cards, 13 bank passbooks, six POS machines, four laptops, two tablets, four high-speed internet routers and Rs 4 lakh in cash. A forensic examination of the devices is underway, while investigators have so far linked the alleged network to 19 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal across different states. Further financial analysis is being conducted to determine the total amount allegedly siphoned off.

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