₹1.9 Crore Cyber Fraud: Three Held in Faridabad for Posing as RBI Officials
Three Arrested in ₹1.9 Crore Cyber Fraud Scheme in Faridabad, India
Three individuals, identified as Asif, Kashif Azam, and Nadeem Ahmad, have been taken into custody by authorities in Faridabad, India, for allegedly perpetrating a ₹1.9 crore cyber fraud scheme.
The Scam
The suspects posed as officials from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to deceive a resident of Sector 29 into transferring funds under the guise of account verification.
Shortly thereafter, the victim was contacted by another individual who purported to be an RBI official. This person claimed that suspicious transactions had been detected in the victim’s bank account, which had come under regulatory scrutiny.
The Modus Operandi
The suspects allegedly used banking terminology and maintained continuous telephonic and online contact to create a sense of urgency and legitimacy. They warned the victim that failure to cooperate could result in his account being frozen and potential money laundering charges.
The victim was instructed to transfer money in multiple instalments as part of a supposed verification process, with the funds supposedly being moved temporarily to an RBI-monitored account and returned once the inquiry was completed.
The Investigation
The victim, believing the claims, transferred approximately ₹1.9 crore through a series of transactions. However, when the money was not returned and the callers became unreachable, the victim realised he had been defrauded and reported the incident to the police.
During the investigation, authorities analysed bank transaction trails, mobile numbers, and digital footprints, which led them to locations in Dehradun and Saharanpur. Raids were conducted, and the three suspects were apprehended.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects used fake SIM cards, mule bank accounts, and internet-based calling platforms to conceal their identities and route the funds.
Next Steps
The police are currently working to identify other members of the network and trace the flow of the siphoned money across multiple accounts. The court has granted a three-day police remand, during which investigators plan to conduct forensic examination of seized digital devices, map linked bank accounts, and identify additional victims who may have been targeted using similar methods.
Warning to Citizens
Cybercrime experts note that this case reflects a growing pattern of fraudsters impersonating RBI, bank, or telecom officials and using the pretext of KYC updates or regulatory verification to induce victims to transfer money.
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