In a suspected attempt to avoid digital surveillance and law enforcement tracking, 3 men allegedly operated a cyber-fraud network from a moving SUV in Delhi. The vehicle reportedly functioned as a mobile call centre, allowing the accused to contact potential victims and manage fraudulent transactions while frequently changing locations.
The case came to light after Neelesh Vishwakarma, a resident of Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district, filed a complaint alleging that he had lost ₹65,000 while trying to recover ₹45 lakh invested in insurance policies.
Following the complaint, an FIR was registered in east Delhi. Investigators examined financial transactions linked to the suspected fraud and identified a bank account associated with Himanshu Rathore after suspicious activity was flagged on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
The financial trail helped police identify other suspected members of the network. Rathore was subsequently arrested, while technical analysis and field surveillance helped investigators trace his alleged associates.
According to police, the accused used an SUV as a moving operational centre to coordinate calls and financial activities. The vehicle was eventually intercepted in the Old Kondli area of east Delhi, leading to the arrest of 2 additional suspects. The 3 arrested individuals have been identified as Lokesh Tomar, Himanshu Rathore and Tushar, all residents of Delhi.
Investigators suspect that Lokesh Tomar coordinated the operation and arranged mule bank accounts to transfer money allegedly collected through fraudulent activities. Police are also examining his possible links to cyber-fraud cases reported in Mumbai and Telangana.
Tushar allegedly contacted potential victims by impersonating officials or representatives. He is suspected of persuading individuals to share sensitive banking information, including account credentials and one-time passwords (OTPs).
Himanshu Rathore allegedly supplied bank accounts to receive and transfer the money in exchange for commissions. Police are also investigating whether some accounts were opened using false residential addresses before being handed over to other members of the network.
During the operation, police recovered 7 mobile phones, 15 bank, debit and Metro cards, 6 cheque books and 3 passbooks. The seized materials also included 5 PAN cards, 4 Aadhaar cards or copies, 1 signed cheque, 2 rental agreements, 11 passport-size photographs and 9 pages containing a customer list.
Investigators also recovered a suspected forged stamp of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which is being examined as part of the investigation.
Police are continuing to analyse the recovered documents, banking records and financial transactions to identify additional suspects and establish the network’s possible involvement in other cyber-fraud cases.
The case highlights the suspected use of impersonation, mobile call centres and mule bank accounts to carry out financial fraud while avoiding detection.
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