A cyber fraud case involving fake social media sales has led to the arrest of a BCA student by the Crime Branch and Bhawanpur police. The accused allegedly cheated more than 30 people across 5 states by offering to sell YouTube channels and Instagram accounts. Police said the total fraud amount is around ₹5 lakh. He was produced before the court and sent to judicial custody.
According to SP Crime Avneesh Kumar, the cyber cell traced a suspicious mobile number while reviewing complaints on the Pratibimb portal. The number was linked to multiple fraud cases registered in 5 states. Through technical surveillance and monitoring, police tracked the location and arrested Rishabh Khari from Syal village in the Bhawanpur area. Officials said the accused had been active in cyber fraud for nearly 1 year.
During interrogation, police found that Rishabh Khari is a BCA student with over 86,000 followers on his social media account. He allegedly began the scam about 2 years ago by posting fake advertisements claiming to sell social media accounts and channels. Victims from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana contacted him after seeing the ads. He allegedly asked for advance payments through bank transfers and then blocked the victims’ numbers after receiving the money. Police suspect links of the fraud network in Gujarat and districts such as Gautam Buddha Nagar and Mainpuri.
Officials said investigations are ongoing to examine the accused’s bank accounts, digital transactions and social media activities. His criminal background is also being verified to identify possible associates. Police have advised citizens to verify the authenticity of any online account or channel before making payments and to avoid transferring money for offers that promise cheap prices or quick profits. Authorities stressed that rising cybercrime cases require greater public awareness and strict verification before trusting unknown online advertisements.
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