Six Engineering Graduates Arrested in Tenkasi Over ‘Old Coin Task’ Cyber Fraud Scam

In a major cybercrime crackdown, the Tenkasi District Cybercrime Police in Tamil Nadu have arrested six engineering graduates for allegedly operating a sophisticated “old coin task” online fraud scheme, exposing how organised digital scams are increasingly recruiting educated youth to defraud unsuspecting victims across states.

According to police officials, the racket was run primarily through Telegram and similar digital platforms, where victims were lured with promises of quick and easy money by completing so-called online “tasks.” These tasks were deceptively framed around collecting or processing “old coin” images or participating in simple digital activities, but in reality functioned as gateways to siphon money and misuse banking credentials.

Investigators said the scam forms part of a broader inter-state digital fraud ecosystem, where victims are gradually manipulated into transferring funds to accounts controlled by the network. Once money is routed through these channels, access is restricted and communication is either reduced or cut off entirely.

Arrests and Evidence Seized

Acting on specific intelligence inputs and technical tracking of suspicious digital activity, the Tenkasi Cybercrime unit traced the operation to individuals from Sivaganga and Pudukkottai districts. All six accused are engineering graduates, underscoring a troubling trend of technically skilled youth being absorbed into cyber fraud networks.

During coordinated raids and searches, police seized a significant volume of digital and financial instruments, including:

• 10 mobile phones

• 33 SIM cards

• 68 ATM cards

Officials noted that the unusually high number of SIM and ATM cards indicates deliberate layering - a technique commonly used in cyber fraud to move money rapidly across multiple accounts, making detection and recovery difficult.

Youth and Cybercrime: A Growing Concern

Cybercrime officials expressed serious concern that educated young professionals are being drawn into illegal digital operations due to the lure of fast money and the perceived anonymity of encrypted platforms. Telegram, in particular, has emerged as a favoured coordination tool for such scams, enabling recruiters to onboard participants, issue instructions and manage transactions with minimal visibility.

Experts warn that weak personal financial discipline and lack of structured record-keeping often make both victims and perpetrators vulnerable. Proper controls and transparent systems - including bookkeeping services in india - play a critical role in identifying unusual transaction patterns early, helping individuals and organisations avoid becoming entangled in fraudulent financial flows.

Legal Action and Next Steps

The arrested individuals are in police custody and are expected to be produced before a magistrate court in Tenkasi. They are likely to face charges under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, 2000, covering cheating, cyber fraud, unauthorised digital access and misuse of electronic communication systems.

Investigators are continuing to analyse seized devices, transaction logs and messaging histories to trace money trails, identify additional victims and determine whether the accused were operators, recruiters or mule handlers within a larger network. Police have not ruled out further arrests as the probe widens.

Authorities have once again cautioned students, job-seekers and young professionals to stay away from online “task” offers that promise guaranteed or effortless income, warning that such schemes frequently end in financial loss and criminal liability.