Delhi: In a significant breakthrough against inter-state cybercrime, the Cyber Police Station of Delhi’s South-West District has dismantled a sophisticated fraud network operating from Jamtara, Jharkhand. The gang, responsible for duping a Delhi resident of ₹10.80 lakh under the guise of updating KYC details for an SBI credit card, was busted after an intensive investigation. Three accused—Mujaffar Jilani, Aftab Ansari, and Md. Iqbal Raza—were arrested in a multi-day operation.
The case came to light after a complaint was filed by KC Barthwal, a 49-year-old resident of Palam, Delhi. On April 5, 2025, he received a phone call from a person impersonating an official from the SBI Credit Card division. The caller falsely claimed that ₹588.82 had been debited from Barthwal’s card and pressured him into clicking a link for KYC updation to either block or activate his card. Trusting the caller, Barthwal clicked the link and entered sensitive card details.
Over the following two days, additional calls were made to him to extract more personal data. Soon, unauthorized transactions began—starting with ₹15,000 and followed by five major transfers totalling ₹10.80 lakh between April 10 and April 12, 2025, via SBI’s internet banking platform. Realizing the fraud, Barthwal reported the matter, prompting the Cyber Cell to register FIR No. 23/2025 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Swift Investigation and Arrests
Given the scale and nature of the fraud, a special team was constituted under the supervision of Inspector Pravesh Kaushik, SHO/Cyber Police Station, and guidance of ACP (Operations) Vijay Kumar. The team—led by SI Amit Malik and comprising HC Manoj, HC Vikram Mahla, HC Sachin, and HC Sanjay—traced the digital trail to Karmatar in Jamtara, Jharkhand, a region notorious for cybercriminal activity.
Using technical surveillance and operating in disguise to blend in with the local population, the team executed raids after two days of recce. Mujaffar Jilani and Aftab Ansari were arrested first and brought to Delhi on transit remand. Upon sustained interrogation, they revealed the involvement of a third accomplice—Md. Iqbal Raza—who was later apprehended in a follow-up operation in Jamtara.
How Scam Worked
Investigators uncovered a carefully coordinated plan executed using social engineering, phishing, and digital laundering techniques:
- Spoofed Calls: Victims received calls from numbers designed to mimic legitimate bank lines.
- Fake KYC Link: A phishing site imitating SBI’s official portal collected the victim’s card details.
- Malicious App Installation: A remote access app, masked as “Customer Support,” was pushed onto the victim’s device to capture OTPs and sensitive data.
- Internet Banking Access: Login credentials were obtained and used to initiate large fund transfers.
- Digital Laundering: Money was funneled through online wallets and gaming platforms like Mobikwik, A23 Gaming, Umpire First Gaming, and Classic Rummy.
- Mule Accounts & Withdrawals: The stolen money was routed through multiple bank accounts operated under fake identities, followed by cash withdrawals.
- Fake SIM Cards: Purchased for ₹1,200 each, these were registered under forged identities to remain untraceable.
Role of Accused
Aftab Ansari (27), the alleged mastermind, oversaw the entire operation and laundered funds through gaming apps.
Mujaffar Jilani (27), a close aide of Aftab, also received money into digital wallets.
Md. Iqbal Raza (24), a technically adept member of the gang, sent the malicious APK file to the victim and manipulated his phone settings to forward OTPs and calls to fake numbers.
All three accused are residents of the Karmatar area in Jamtara, Jharkhand.
Items Recovered
- During the raids, police recovered:
- 5 smartphones used in executing the fraud
- 6 SIM cards obtained under false identities
- 1 debit card linked to the fraudulent transactions
Advisory to the Public
The police have issued a strong advisory urging citizens to stay vigilant against such scams:
Never share personal financial details like OTPs or card information over phone calls.
Avoid clicking on unverified links sent via SMS, WhatsApp, or email.
Banks do not seek sensitive information via calls or third-party applications.
Case Progress
The case, registered under FIR No. 23/2025 and connected to multiple complaints on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), remains under investigation. Authorities are now probing potential links to other similar scams across India.
The Delhi Police lauded the efforts of the Cyber Cell team for their timely intervention, which disrupted a major cybercrime network and possibly prevented more individuals from falling prey to such frauds.
