Fake Bank Officials’ Cyber Fraud Racket Busted in Prayagraj; Three Arrested

A coordinated cyber fraud network impersonating bank officials has been dismantled in Prayagraj after cyber police arrested three accused allegedly involved in defrauding victims through fake insurance services, credit card upgrades and KYC update calls. Multiple digital devices, ATM cards and banking records have been seized as part of the operation.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Monu Kumar, Mohammad Sajid alias Golu, and Sameer Alam (23), residents of southwest Delhi. They have been remanded to judicial custody while investigations continue.

Posed as Bank Officials to Gain Trust

According to investigators, the accused would contact victims by posing as bank representatives. They offered:

• Insurance activation services

• Credit card limit enhancement

• Urgent KYC verification updates

During the call, victims were persuaded to download an APK file shared via a link. Once installed, the malicious application granted the fraudsters remote access to the victim’s mobile phone.

Through this access, the gang could:

• Monitor SMS messages

• Capture OTPs

• Access banking apps

• Execute unauthorised transactions

In most cases, victims realised the fraud only after funds had already been siphoned from their accounts.

Multiple Complaints Across States

Police confirmed that at least 15 complaints against the accused are registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

Investigators believe the network operated across multiple states using the same method. The seizure of passbooks and ATM cards suggests that the accused used several mule bank accounts to route stolen funds.

Layering techniques were reportedly used to complicate the money trail. Such structured financial routing patterns often require technical tracing methods similar to those deployed during forensic reviews under auditing services in india, especially when identifying ultimate beneficiaries.

Digital Forensics Under Way

Cyber units are conducting forensic examinations of:

• Seized mobile phones

• SIM cards

• Linked bank accounts

• Transaction histories

Authorities are mapping the full transaction chain to uncover additional operatives who may still be active.

Officials suspect a larger network structure where:

• Call operators handled victim interaction

• Technical members deployed malware

• Financial handlers managed mule accounts

• Higher-level coordinators monitored fund flows

Public Advisory Issued

Police have reiterated key safety measures:

• Banks never ask customers to download APK files

• OTPs and passwords should never be shared over phone

• Unknown links must not be opened

• Screen-sharing apps should not be installed on request

Citizens are advised to immediately report suspicious activity through official cybercrime portals.

Further arrests are expected as investigators widen the probe.