Four people have been arrested in connection with an alleged cyber fraud in which a 62-year-old resident of Greater Noida West lost ₹21.26 lakh after receiving a fake Piped Natural Gas (PNG) bill payment call.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly allowed cybercriminals to use their bank accounts for commission, enabling the stolen money to be routed through multiple accounts. Police say the investigation is continuing to identify the wider fraud network.
Fake IGL Call Triggered the Fraud
According to police, the incident occurred on March 1, 2026, when the victim received a phone call from a person claiming to represent Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL).
The caller allegedly warned that the victim's PNG connection would be disconnected unless pending dues were cleared immediately.
The victim was then sent a payment link and instructed to complete the transaction by entering his banking credentials.
Fixed Deposit Allegedly Broken Without Permission
Investigators said the victim clicked the link and entered his banking information.
The fraudsters allegedly gained unauthorised access to the bank account, prematurely broke the victim's fixed deposit and transferred ₹21.26 lakh through 11 separate transactions into multiple bank accounts.
The fraud was discovered only after the victim reviewed his account statements.
Complaint Led to Cyber Investigation
The victim reported the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
Police registered a case on March 9 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act relating to cheating, impersonation and cyber fraud.
Cyber investigators analysed banking records, digital evidence and fund movement to trace the financial trail.
Four Arrested, More Suspects Under Probe
Following nearly three months of investigation, police arrested:
- Sachin (28)
- Shahnawaz (27)
- Shivam (22)
- Shubham (26)
According to investigators, the accused allegedly provided their bank accounts to cybercriminals in exchange for commissions ranging between 10% and 20%.
Police believe the stolen money first entered these accounts before being transferred further through the laundering network.
Police Tracking Larger Banking Network
Investigators are examining:
- Digital communication records
- Bank transaction trails
- Electronic evidence
- Additional account holders
- Fund routing patterns
Authorities suspect that multiple people may have assisted in opening bank accounts, routing funds and managing different stages of the alleged fraud.
Further arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.
Utility Bill Scams Continue to Rise
Police have warned citizens to remain cautious of calls claiming immediate payment is required for:
- Gas bills
- Electricity bills
- Water connections
- Telecom services
- KYC verification
Legitimate utility companies generally do not ask customers to enter banking credentials through links shared over unsolicited calls or messages.
Businesses and individuals can also strengthen financial oversight through bookkeeping services in india, helping maintain organised payment records, verify vendor transactions and quickly identify unauthorised banking activity.
Conclusion
The Greater Noida case demonstrates how a single fraudulent utility payment link can result in substantial financial losses within minutes.
Citizens should always verify payment requests through official customer care channels or company websites and never click on unknown payment links received through calls, SMS or messaging applications.
Shunyatax Global Insight
Utility payment scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, combining fake customer support calls with phishing links and mule bank accounts. Once victims enter their banking credentials, fraudsters often move funds through multiple accounts within minutes.
Shunyatax Global believes individuals and businesses should regularly monitor bank statements, enable transaction alerts and maintain organised financial records. Professional bookkeeping services in india can help identify unusual transactions early, improve reconciliation processes and strengthen financial documentation during fraud investigations.