A joint workforce of the Cyber Crime Cell and Ghazipur (Indiranagar) police have arrested 4 members of an inter-state fraud syndicate from Jharkhand’s Tinpahad area and likewise detained three juvenile offenders, authorities mentioned on Sunday. The gang was concerned in cellular theft and large-scale cyber fraud utilizing stolen SIM playing cards. As many as 46 stolen cellphones have been recovered from their possession.
The gang was concerned in cellular theft and large-scale cyber fraud utilizing stolen SIM playing cards. (For illustration.)
The arrested accused have been recognized as Shubham Kumar Mahato (26), Sonu Mahato (26), Rajkumar Rai (21), and Jonu Kumar (23), hailing from Jharkhand and Bihar. The juvenile offenders taken into custody are aged 14 and 13.
The case unfolded after a grievance was filed by Deshraj, a resident of Mulayam Nagar, who reported cellular theft from an area vegetable market on April 8. Quickly afterwards, an unauthorised transaction of ₹2 lakh was created from his checking account linked together with his cellular quantity. A case was registered on the Ghazipur (Indiranagar) police station.
Because the probe proceeded, hyperlinks with a number of different incidents of cellular theft from crowded marketplaces, together with Phool Mandi in Chowk, BKT, Viraj Khand and Nakkhas, emerged, with all complainants reporting related sample.
ACP (Crime) Abhinav Kumar mentioned that in interrogation, the arrested accused—Shubham Kumar Mahato, Sonu Mahato, Rajkumar Rai, and Jonu Kumar—revealed a extremely organised operation. “The gang frequently targeted crowded areas like city markets, flower and vegetable markets, and fairs across various states, including Uttar Pradesh. After stealing mobile phones, they would immediately disable tracking features with the help of their accomplices, and access SIM cards inside the stolen devices,” Kumar defined.
Kumar mentioned that utilizing the SIM playing cards, they’d achieve entry to linked financial institution accounts or bank cards and switch funds into accounts opened utilizing solid identities. As soon as the fraud was full, the stolen gadgets have been bought, and the gang members divided the ill-gotten cash amongst themselves.
Function of juveniles
Police defined that the gang additionally employed minors. The accused confessed to luring economically susceptible households from their villages by providing them cash and utilizing minors for telephone snatching in public areas. “Children do not come under suspicion, and even if caught, they are often let off with a warning,” the accused mentioned throughout questioning.
All recovered cellphones and digital proof are being examined, and additional investigation is underway to hint the cash path and potential patrons of the stolen gadgets. ACP Abhinav Kumar acknowledged, “This gang was not just stealing phones but also orchestrating sophisticated cyber frauds targeting digital banking. The use of minors and fake accounts makes this a serious organised crime network. We are expanding our probe to track other operatives and prevent further incidents.”