A coordinated police operation in Meerut has exposed a cybercrime network that used poor and migrant workers to carry out large scale financial fraud across multiple states.
Meerut Police have arrested 3 accused for running a racket that opened bank accounts in the names of vulnerable people and handed them over to cyber fraud groups. The accused lured individuals with small cash incentives and misused their accounts to route illegal funds worth crores of rupees.
Police said the arrested men include one who is completely illiterate and uses only thumb impressions, and another who studied only up to Class 9. The case highlights how organised cybercrime groups are increasingly exploiting social and economic vulnerability.
The accused have been identified as Ajay Kumar from Haldwani Kulesara in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Kuldeep from Jattari under Tappal police station in Aligarh, and Dinesh Kumar from Gonda village under Gonda police station in Aligarh. They were arrested on Thursday morning from the Mall Road area by the Cyber Crime Police Station with support from Lalkurti police while they were allegedly meeting another associate.
During a press briefing, SP Crime Avnish Kumar said Ajay Kumar operated a Jan Seva Kendra which was used as a cover to open bank accounts in the names of poor and rural residents. Victims were paid ₹1,000 in cash and were not told how the accounts would be used.
Kuldeep and Dinesh worked as field operatives and brought daily wage workers and villagers to Ajay. After the accounts were opened, the accused kept the passbooks, ATM cards and SIM cards, giving them full control.
Police said these accounts were supplied to cyber fraud gangs operating in different parts of the country. During questioning, the accused admitted that 29 bank accounts were opened using this method.
Investigations have linked these accounts to 52 cyber fraud FIRs so far. Of these, 39 complaints are from different districts in Uttar Pradesh, with several cases also registered at Delhi Gate and Railway Road police stations in Meerut.
Police recovered a register containing bank account details, ₹15,000 in cash, and 3 mobile phones. The register is being examined to trace the wider network.
In a related case, police recovered ₹86,950 and returned it to a cyber fraud victim who had reported a loss of ₹1,01,933 on December 8.
Police said the gang has links to an interstate cybercrime network and more arrests are likely. Citizens have been advised not to share bank accounts or SIM cards and to report cyber fraud through the 1930 helpline.
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