Police in Telangana's Adilabad district have arrested five men accused of running an interstate cyber fraud network that targeted people across the country through fake fertiliser franchise offers and fraudulent loan schemes. According to police, roughly 498 cybercrime complaints have been registered against the accused nationwide, including 90 in Telangana alone, with the gang suspected of defrauding victims of approximately ₹3.5 crore in total.
Who Was Arrested
The five accused have been identified as Abhishek Kumar (24), Ashutosh Kumar (33), Nishu Kumar (25), Ritesh Kumar (24), and Abinash Kumar (24), all natives of Bihar. They were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. During the investigation, police recovered 10 mobile phones and ₹70,000 in cash from the group, along with evidence that roughly ₹8 lakh of the alleged fraud proceeds had been routed into bank accounts and stock market investments, both of which have since been frozen under standard procedure.
Two Fake Schemes, One Playbook
According to police, the gang built a fake website under the name "National Fertilizers Pvt Ltd" to offer bogus fertiliser franchise opportunities. Applicants were reportedly asked to hand over sensitive personal and financial details, Aadhaar, PAN, photographs, bank account information, before being asked for payments in stages under various heads: registration, service, licence, and trade transfer fees.
Alongside this, the gang allegedly ran a fake "Bajaj Loan" scheme targeting people searching online for loans. After making contact with prospective applicants, the accused would reportedly collect their personal and financial details, then demand fees under the guise of loan-processing charges. Once payment was made, victims allegedly lost all contact with the group.
How the Case Came to Light
The case surfaced after Akunuru Ganesh, a resident of Mandagada village in Bhoraj mandal, filed a complaint alleging he'd been cheated of ₹3,85,725 while applying for a fertiliser franchise. According to his complaint, the accused reached out through phone calls, WhatsApp, and email after he expressed interest in the opportunity, collecting his Aadhaar, PAN, and personal photographs before initially demanding ₹50,000 as a registration fee, followed by a series of additional charges for licensing and other supposed expenses.
Ganesh reportedly transferred a total of ₹3,85,725 through bank transfers, UPI, and NEFT, only to find the accused had stopped responding once the money was received.
A Pattern That Points to Scale
The sheer volume of complaints tied to this group, nearly 500 across the country, suggests an operation running well beyond a single victim or region. Police believe the gang systematically used fraudulent websites and targeted online searches to identify people actively looking for business opportunities or loans, using fake corporate identities to build enough credibility before demanding payment.
Cybersecurity experts advise independently verifying the identity of any company offering franchises, loans, or investment opportunities before sharing personal information or transferring money, checking official websites, registration details, and contact information directly rather than relying solely on unsolicited calls, messages, or online ads.
What's Next
Police are now examining the accused's other bank accounts, digital devices, and associated websites, alongside cross-referencing complaints filed in other states to establish the full scale of the network and the total amount collected from victims. Further cases and additional links to the broader interstate fraud operation may surface as the investigation continues.
FAQs
Q1. How many complaints have been linked to this cyber fraud gang?
Around 498 complaints nationwide, including 90 in Telangana, with total alleged losses estimated at ₹3.5 crore.
Q2. What schemes did the gang allegedly run?
A fake fertiliser franchise scheme under "National Fertilizers Pvt Ltd" and a fraudulent "Bajaj Loan" scheme, both designed to collect personal information and staged payments from victims.
Q3. How much did the complainant, Akunuru Ganesh, allegedly lose?
₹3,85,725, paid in stages through bank transfers, UPI, and NEFT while applying for the fake fertiliser franchise.
Q4. What has been recovered from the accused so far?
10 mobile phones, ₹70,000 in cash, and roughly ₹8 lakh in frozen bank accounts and stock market investments linked to the alleged fraud proceeds.