The Delhi Police Crime Branch has scored a significant victory against cybercrime, dismantling a sophisticated racket that operated a fraudulent website mimicking a well-known hotel-booking platform. Authorities announced the arrest of the primary suspect on Tuesday.
The Complaint That Led to the Crackdown
The investigation was triggered by a complaint from a victim residing in the United States. The individual reported a financial loss of Rs 57,186 while trying to book a hotel room through what appeared to be a legitimate platform. The scam unfolded when the accused, posing as a customer support executive, contacted the victim. Using clever social engineering tactics, the fraudster tricked the person into revealing sensitive One-Time Password (OTP) and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) details, which led to the unauthorised transaction.
Evidence Uncovered and Modus Operandi
During subsequent raids, the police recovered crucial evidence, including three mobile phones, a forged Aadhaar card, and digital proof such as incriminating WhatsApp chats used to identify and target potential victims. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam revealed a startling connection: the seized mobile numbers were linked to at least 29 different complaints registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
Forensic analysis of the transaction trail showed that the defrauded money was ultimately used to pay the accused's personal credit card bill, highlighting the direct financial gain from the scam.
The Accused and His Confession
The arrested individual has been identified as Pratosh Kumar (26), a resident of Sheikhpura in Bihar. Police stated that Kumar, a Class 12 pass-out, had been actively involved in cyber fraud activities for approximately six years. During interrogation, he confessed to his crimes.
His method was systematic: he used multiple mobile phones and the fake Aadhaar card to pose as an authorised representative of various online service platforms. He would contact victims under the guise of confirming bookings or processing refunds. Once he established contact, he employed psychological manipulation to convince them to part with their OTPs and UPI credentials, thereby gaining complete control over their transactions.
This arrest underscores the persistent threat of cyber fraud in the digital age and serves as a stern warning from the Delhi Police to those operating similar online scams. The case also highlights the importance of public vigilance—never share OTPs or UPI PINs with anyone, regardless of the urgency of the caller's request.
