Varanasi Police Busts Cyber Fraud Gang

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Varanasi Police Crack Down on Cyber Fraud Scheme

A recent crackdown by Varanasi police has led to the arrest of five individuals accused of perpetrating a large-scale cyber fraud scheme that siphoned ₹42.50 lakh from a local resident.

Complaint and Investigation

The arrests were made after a complaint was filed on December 8, 2025, by Madan Mohan Mishra, who alleged that unknown cybercriminals had accessed his bank account and made unauthorized transactions.

An investigation by the city’s cyber crime police station revealed that the fraudsters used malicious mobile applications to gain remote access to the victim’s SMS messages, including one-time passwords (OTPs), and extracted internet banking user IDs and passwords.

Accused and Recovered Materials

The police identified the accused as Shamim Ansari, Fakruddin alias Niranjan, Naseem Ansari, Shahbuddin Ansari, and Sahab Lal Marandi, all residents of Dhanbad district in Jharkhand.

Shamim Ansari was allegedly the gang leader coordinating the operation.

During the raids, police recovered several items, including four Android mobile phones, a SIM card, ₹66,000 in cash, a four-wheeler without a registration number, and forged documentation used to facilitate financial fraud.

Modus Operandi

The gang allegedly circulated Trojan and SMS forwarder-based APK files to targeted victims, which enabled them to remotely access sensitive information.

The stolen funds were then quickly withdrawn in cash to avoid detection.

The syndicate also forged village head letterheads and seals to alter address details on Aadhaar cards, generating modified identity documents used to open multiple bank accounts across different financial institutions.

The use of forged Aadhaar credentials to create mule accounts reflects a growing trend in organized cybercrime, where identity manipulation and digital tools are combined to execute large-scale frauds.

Further Investigation and Precautions

The accused are being interrogated to determine their involvement in similar cases in other states and to identify additional accomplices or beneficiaries of the racket.

The police are examining financial transaction records to trace the flow of funds and determine if the proceeds were routed to other networks.

Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious while using mobile applications and to verify the authenticity of identity documents.

Arrests and Custody

The five accused have been sent to judicial custody, and further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the network’s operations and any interstate or international links.