The Delhi Police has busted a cyber fraud syndicate involved in digitally extorting money using forged documents bearing the names of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and has arrested four members of the gang.
According to the police, the accused held a 45-year-old woman, her daughter, and her elderly father virtually hostage on video calls for two consecutive days, extorting ₹8.10 lakh by threatening legal action under a fabricated money laundering case.
The incident came to light after the woman, a private sector employee residing in Lahori Gate, Delhi, lodged a complaint through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
"The woman reported receiving a call from an unknown number, where the caller claimed to be from the Telecom Department and accused her of using a fake SIM card. The situation escalated when she began receiving continuous video calls from individuals impersonating officials from the ED and CBI," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Raja Banthai.
During these video calls, the fraudsters falsely accused her of involvement in a money laundering racket and threatened her with arrest. They also sent forged legal documents bearing fake seals and logos of the Supreme Court, ED, and CBI in an attempt to lend credibility to their threats.
For 48 hours — from 5 to 7 March — the woman and her family were subjected to constant video surveillance, a tactic the police described as a case of "digital arrest".
"Unable to cope with the psychological pressure and repeated threats, the woman transferred a total of ₹8.10 lakh to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters, in hopes of clearing her name. She later approached the police after realising she had been duped," the DCP added.
Following her complaint, the cyber police of the North District registered an FIR on 24 March and launched an investigation.
Investigators examined call detail records and followed the money trail, eventually tracing the operations of the syndicate to South Delhi. Leads pointed to Zamrudpur, East of Kailash, and Greater Kailash. Three people were arrested on 31 March following raids at these locations.
The accused were identified as Raja Mandal (27), a former agent of a food delivery aggregator; Tushar Thapa (23), a resident of Ambedkar Nagar and an account provider; and Saurabh Tiwari (23), an associate of Thapa.
According to police officials, the accused had established a methodical system to lure local individuals into opening bank accounts using forged documents, in exchange for a share of the illicit proceeds. These accounts were then used to receive funds extorted from victims.
The gang also procured fake SIM cards to receive OTPs and SMS alerts linked to these accounts.
Follow us
