New Delhi: A scheme involving advertisements for inexpensive clothing on social media, followed by orders placed via WhatsApp and the subsequent swindling of money under the guise of delivery—this is the modus operandi of a sophisticated cyber-fraud network. A complaint filed by a Delhi University student, who was defrauded of ₹6,450, led to the exposure of this organised network, with investigations revealing transactions exceeding ₹30 crore across various suspicious bank accounts. Following an extensive probe spanning nearly 2,000 kilometres and utilising technical surveillance, the North District Police conducted operations in Greater Noida and Kanpur, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals. So far, the network has been linked to 27 separate cyber-fraud complaints from various states.
Ordering a ‘Kurti’—The Beginning of a Long-Drawn-Out Scam
Niharika Bhatt, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the North District, stated that the victim—a student from Prayagraj currently studying at Ramjas College, Delhi University—encountered an advertisement on Instagram for a page called ‘Kavya_kurti_hub’. She was directed to WhatsApp to place an order for a ‘kurti’ (tunic), for which she made an advance payment of ₹400. Subsequently, she received a call regarding the delivery of the parcel. Under the pretext of generating a ‘passcode’ for the delivery, the perpetrators coerced her into making a series of payments: first ₹1,150, followed by ₹2,000, ₹2,650, and finally ₹650. The parcel never arrived, and the money was never returned. Based on her complaint, an FIR (No. 36/2026) was registered at the North District Cyber Police Station on September 4, 2026, and an investigation was initiated.
Scrutiny of 200 Mobile Numbers Leads to a Breakthrough
During the investigation, the police analysed approximately 200 mobile numbers and their corresponding IMEI numbers, along with bank transaction data and digital records linked to platforms such as Flipkart, Zomato, and BlueDart. The proceeds from the fraud were traced to a bank account belonging to Kijentech Solutions Private Limited, based in Greater Noida. Following sustained technical surveillance, a raid was conducted in Greater Noida on October 16, leading to the arrest of six suspects. Acting on further leads, a seventh suspect was apprehended in Kanpur on October 21.
The Scheme: Shell Companies, Bank Accounts, and Commissions
According to the police, the suspects allegedly established shell companies to open active bank accounts. The banking kits and SIM cards associated with these accounts were then passed on to other individuals. The investigation has identified three suspicious entities: Kijentech Solutions Private Limited, Executive Edge, and Nexcore. Police allege that individuals were lured with the promise of approximately ₹25,000 per month in exchange for providing bank accounts. These accounts, along with their related documentation, were subsequently handed over to third parties in exchange for a commission. The investigation also uncovered references to entities named “Maxwell” and “Solitaire,” who were allegedly contacted via WhatsApp numbers linked to US country codes.
MBA Graduate Under Scrutiny
Among those arrested is 24-year-old Gaurav Pandey, who holds an MBA degree. Police state that he was a key link in the network responsible for procuring bank accounts. Other arrested individuals include Aditya Mishra, Ayush Verma, Abhishek Pal, Rahul Kumar, Himanshu Rana, and Udit Pratap Singh Bhadoria.
Significant Seizures During Raids
During the raids, police recovered 20 mobile phones, 45 SIM cards, 28 chequebooks, 33 debit cards, 39 POS machines, 15 scanners, two laptops, five official seals, seven Aadhaar cards, five PAN cards, and 21 documents related to various bank accounts.
Key Role of Police Personnel
This operation was carried out under the leadership of Niharika Bhatt, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North District), and under the guidance of senior police officials. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) Vishesh Dhatarwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Ram Dulare Meena, and the Station House Officer (SHO) of the North Cyber Police Station, Rohit Gehlot. The investigation team was led by Sub-Inspector Arvind Yadav and included Head Constables Himanshu and Ravi.
Police investigation underway
The police are currently examining the seized mobile phones, SIM cards, banking documents, and electronic devices. According to officials, transactions exceeding ₹30 crore have been identified in the suspicious accounts. Efforts are ongoing to uncover other members of this network and investigate links to related cybercrimes. The DCP has advised the public to exercise caution when making online purchases, especially when dealing with unfamiliar social media accounts. Always verify any requests for additional payments—whether purportedly for parcels, passcodes, or refunds. In the event of falling victim to cyber fraud, immediately call 1930 or file a complaint via the national cybercrime portal.
