Interstate Cyber Crime Ring Busted in Etawah After 500 Victims Duped in Gaming Fraud

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Etawah police have dismantled an inter-state cybercrime operation that defrauded over 500 individuals of significant financial losses through online gaming and betting platforms.

Investigation and Arrests

Etawah police have dismantled an inter-state cybercrime operation that defrauded over 500 individuals of significant financial losses through online gaming and betting platforms. A coordinated effort involving the Civil Lines police station, the Special Operations Group, and local surveillance units led to the arrest of four key suspects. The investigation revealed the group operated for eight to ten months, focusing on rural populations to obtain personal identification documents used for illicit financial activities. The arrested individuals include Anshul alias Hansu Tiwari and Rakhi Ranawat from Etawah, Ankit Mishra from Mainpuri, and Mohit from Auraiya.

Use of Mule Accounts and Commission Schemes to Facilitate Transactions

The syndicate targeted rural residents, persuading them to provide sensitive information under the guise of earning commission fees. Once collected, the suspects established multiple bank accounts and procured SIM cards in the victims’ names without disclosing their true intentions. These accounts functioned as intermediaries for transferring funds generated through betting activities. Stolen money deposited into these accounts was withdrawn via debit cards and distributed among members or funneled into secondary accounts to obscure the transaction trail. Forensic teams are currently analyzing seized financial records and transaction logs to determine the full scale of the operation.

According to investigators, the gang deceived villagers by offering incentives for assistance in opening bank accounts and acquiring mobile SIM cards.

Electronics, Debit Cards, and Vehicles Recovered in Raids

During the operation, law enforcement recovered 16 mobile devices, 42 ATM and debit cards, six counterfeit SIM cards, a laptop, multiple cheque books, and bank passbooks. Authorities also seized identity documents linked to third parties. Digital forensics experts are examining the confiscated devices to reconstruct the financial network and identify external connections. The investigation is expanding to locate additional accomplices involved in cash withdrawals and trace shell accounts associated with the scheme.

Police Move to Invoke Gangster Act and Attach Assets

Investigators noted the group employed evasive strategies, ceasing operations during periods of heightened scrutiny and resuming activities once law enforcement attention diminished. To address this, authorities have initiated legal proceedings under the Uttar Pradesh Gangster Act, which will allow for the seizure of assets acquired through illegal means. A reward of ₹20,000 has been announced for personnel involved in the operation, while further inquiries continue to assess whether the victim count surpasses the current 500 reported.