Major Cyber Fraud Crackdown in Delhi
In a significant breakthrough against cybercrime, Delhi Police has dismantled two sophisticated fraud networks that were preying on unemployed youth with fake job offers and online task assignments. The coordinated operations led to the arrest of twelve individuals across multiple locations in the national capital region.
West Delhi Fake Airline Job Racket Exposed
Police officials revealed that one of the rackets operated from West Delhi, specifically targeting job seekers with fraudulent employment opportunities in reputed airlines. The mastermind, identified as Vikash Kumar, along with his associate Baljeet Singh and seven female telecallers, were apprehended during the investigation.
According to DCP South Ankit Chauhan, the accused posed as legitimate recruiters on popular job portals and deceived victims by offering fake employment positions with Indigo Airlines. The fraudsters collected money from applicants under the pretext of processing fees and other fabricated charges.
Investigators discovered that the gang had been running this elaborate scam for over a year, with over 40 complaints already registered against them on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP). The modus operandi involved collecting relatively small amounts ranging between Rs 2,500 and Rs 15,000 from multiple victims, making the scam less noticeable initially.
Raids and Seizures
During raids conducted at Subhash Nagar and Ganesh Nagar in West Delhi, police seized substantial evidence including 23 electronic devices, 19 SIM cards, eight UPI-linked QR codes, and a Wi-Fi router used in the illegal operation.
A disturbing aspect of the investigation revealed that Baljeet Singh, an employee of a telecom service provider, had been fraudulently issuing SIM cards by misusing customers' biometric data. The telecallers, aged between 19 and 33 years, were reportedly recruited through job portals themselves and paid approximately Rs 15,000 per month in cash.
North Delhi Online Task Fraud Network
In a parallel operation, North Delhi police arrested three men involved in an interstate cyber cheating racket that followed a similar pattern. The accused, identified as Kuldeep Kushwaha, Kuldeep Singh, and Rahul Chaudhary, were apprehended from Agra and Jaipur following detailed analysis of mobile and banking trails.
This group operated primarily through WhatsApp and Telegram, luring victims with promises of quick profits for simple online assignments such as rating restaurants and hotels. DCP North Raja Banthia explained how the scam worked: "Victims would receive WhatsApp messages offering part-time jobs. After showing interest, they would be added to Telegram groups and asked to rate establishments to earn money. Later, they were instructed to perform prepaid tasks requiring upfront payments with promises of higher returns."
One victim reportedly lost Rs 2.96 lakh after transferring money to various UPI IDs and bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. Investigations uncovered that the accused were part of a larger network engaged in selling and using bank accounts to facilitate cyber fraud transactions.
Kingpin Still at Large
Police confirmed that the alleged mastermind of the second racket, Arvind, a resident of Narnaul in Haryana, remains at large and efforts are underway to apprehend him. During raids connected to this case, authorities recovered three mobile phones, cheque books, PAN cards, and account-opening kits linked to the fraudulent activities.
Both cyber fraud operations exploited the desperation of job seekers in a challenging employment market, using personal data to extort money through false promises of employment and easy earnings.
Police Advisory and Prevention Measures
Delhi Police has issued a strong advisory urging citizens to exercise extreme caution against such job scams and online investment offers. Authorities have emphasized that genuine employers never ask for processing fees or upfront payments during the recruitment process.
Police recommend that job seekers thoroughly verify company credentials before sharing personal information or transferring any money. They have also appealed to victims of cyber fraud to immediately report incidents to the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or through the official portal http://www.cybercrime.gov.in.
The successful busting of these two rackets highlights the increasing sophistication of cyber criminals targeting vulnerable sections of society and underscores the importance of public awareness in combating such frauds.
