The Tenkasi District Cybercrime Police in Tamil Nadu have arrested 6 engineering graduates for their alleged role in an online cyber fraud scheme known as the old coin task scam. The arrests highlight a growing concern over educated youth getting involved in organised digital frauds that target unsuspecting users through social media and messaging platforms.
According to police officials, the scam was linked to a wider interstate online gambling and digital fraud network. Victims were lured through Telegram and other digital platforms with promises of quick earnings by completing simple online tasks. These tasks were presented as harmless activities such as collecting or processing old coin images or completing digital missions. Once people joined, they were convinced to transfer money or share bank related details, which were then misused to siphon funds from their accounts. Investigators said the exact method used to pitch the old coin task is still being examined.
Based on specific intelligence and analysis of suspicious digital activity, the cybercrime team tracked and arrested the suspects from Sivaganga and Pudukkottai districts on Sunday. All 6 accused are young engineering graduates. During searches, police seized 10 mobile phones, 33 SIM cards and 68 ATM cards. Officials said the large number of SIM and ATM cards points to a complex multi account setup, often used in cyber frauds to avoid detection and move money across several channels.
Police have raised concern over the increasing involvement of educated youth in cybercrime, driven by easy money offers and online peer influence. The accused will be produced before a magistrate court in Tenkasi and charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, 2000. Investigators are continuing to trace money trails, analyse digital communication records and identify possible links to other accomplices. Authorities have advised students and job seekers to stay alert and avoid online task offers that promise quick returns, warning that such schemes can lead to financial loss and serious legal consequences.
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