A sophisticated cyber fraud operation spanning multiple states has been uncovered by Delhi Police after a city resident reported unauthorised withdrawals from his bank account. The investigation revealed a network that misused Fastag linked payments and e-commerce gift cards to steal and launder money. Acting on technical leads, police arrested 2 accused from Rajasthan.
The case was handled by the Cyber Cell of the West District after investigators found that the victim’s mobile phone was compromised through a malicious application file received on WhatsApp. The file was disguised as an official e challan alert and, once installed, allowed fraudsters to gain access to sensitive financial details, including banking credentials. This access enabled the accused to move funds without the victim’s knowledge.
Police said the stolen money was routed through Fastag wallets linked to several vehicles and then converted into Amazon gift cards. This method helped the accused quickly launder funds and made the money trail difficult to track. A detailed forensic and financial analysis led officers to Sri Ganganagar district in Rajasthan, where raids were conducted in Gharsana. The operation was found running from a private firm named Bansari Company, indicating a well planned and sustained fraud setup.
During the searches, police seized 70 mobile phones, 10 laptops, 467 SIM cards, 37 ATM cards, 10 bank passbooks, multiple Fastag tags and a point of sale machine. Data recovered from the devices showed links to several complaints filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal from different states, pointing to a pan India operation. Experts involved in the probe said Fastag misuse is emerging as a new concern due to its direct link with bank accounts and ease of fund transfers, while gift cards further complicate recovery.
Police said the investigation is ongoing to identify more members involved in sourcing SIM cards, opening mule accounts and cashing out gift cards. In a separate development, Delhi Police also confirmed arrests in a stabbing case from the Mangolpuri area in which a 25 year old man died. Officials warned that cyber fraud methods are becoming more advanced and urged citizens to remain cautious while downloading files or clicking payment related links.
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