New Delhi: In a major breakthrough against cyber-enabled financial fraud, the Cyber Police Station of South West District, Delhi, has successfully busted a work-from-home job fraud syndicate operating across multiple states.
The police have arrested four individuals who were allegedly involved in duping people under the guise of online part-time jobs and laundering the cheated money through a complex network of bank accounts and cryptocurrency channels.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Ankur Mishra, 22, resident of Siapura, Uttar Pradesh
- Kratarth, 21, from Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh
- Vishwash Sharma, 32, resident of Prem Nagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Ketan Mishra, aged 18 years and 11 months, from Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh
The Case
The operation was launched following a complaint lodged on May 27, 2025, by a resident of Vasant Kunj, Delhi. The complainant alleged that he had been contacted via a Telegram ID on May 23, 2025, offering him a part-time online job to review websites, with a promise of ₹50 per review.
Initially paid small amounts, the victim was later tricked into performing prepaid tasks that involved buying and selling Bitcoin and submitting proof of the transactions.
Gradually, the accused manipulated the complainant into repeatedly transferring money under various pretexts to “redeem” the earnings that he was supposedly accumulating. By the time he realized it was a scam, he had lost a total of ₹17.49 lakh.
An FIR (No. 40/2025) was registered under sections 318(4), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at PS Cyber, South West District. A team was constituted under the leadership of Inspector Pravesh Kaushik, SHO/PS Cyber, and overall supervision of ACP Operations Vijay Kumar.
The investigative unit was led by SI Opendar and comprised W/SI Priyanka, HC Ashok, HC Jaiprakash, HC Babulal, and Constable Jeetram.
Investigation Unfolds Across States
The probe followed a two-pronged approach — focusing on both the technical and financial trails. During the investigation, the police traced ₹5 lakh of the defrauded amount, which had been debited from the complainant’s bank account and credited to an account at Kotak Mahindra Bank. This account was registered in the name of Ankur Mishra.
Further scrutiny of CCTV footage at the bank branch revealed Ankur Mishra along with two other suspects withdrawing money using a cheque.
Additional analysis of transaction data revealed that another account, linked to the fraudulent transactions, was being operated in Agra, although the account holders were traced back to Madhya Pradesh.
Based on these leads, the team mapped out the syndicate’s geographic footprint, which extended across Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), and Shivpuri (Madhya Pradesh).
A series of coordinated raids were carried out at these locations, resulting in the arrest of all four accused.
Sophisticated Modus Operandi
The gang exploited the rising trend of remote work to ensnare victims. Posing as representatives of fictitious online platforms, they used Telegram and other social media channels to approach individuals looking for work-from-home opportunities.
Initially, victims were offered small rewards for simple online tasks such as reviewing websites. These tasks were merely bait to build trust.
Once the victims were drawn in, they were encouraged to participate in higher-stake “prepaid” assignments, which involved buying and selling of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and USDT.
The money sent by the victims was funneled through a web of layered bank accounts, making it difficult to trace. It was then converted into cryptocurrency to evade detection by financial institutions and enforcement agencies.
The accused were found responsible for:
- Procuring and using multiple bank accounts to circulate the fraudulent proceeds
- Creating layers of financial transactions to obscure the money trail
- Converting funds into digital currency to hide the crime’s financial footprint
Recovery and Further Action
During the raids, police recovered:
- Four mobile phones used to operate Telegram IDs and manage bank accounts
- Four SIM cards, presumably used to communicate with victims and execute the fraud
The case, registered as FIR No. 40/2025, is now under active investigation, with further leads being pursued. The police suspect that the syndicate could be linked to a larger network of cyber fraud operations and have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests.
Cyber Police officials have urged citizens to remain vigilant and cautious while accepting online job offers. They advise verifying the credentials of platforms, avoiding any prepaid tasks, and reporting suspicious activities immediately through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
A Growing Concern
This case once again highlights the growing menace of cyber-enabled job frauds, especially those exploiting vulnerable job seekers looking for remote or flexible employment.
With increasing digitization and the proliferation of social media platforms, such frauds have become more sophisticated and widespread.
The swift action by Delhi Police’s Cyber Wing, aided by detailed technical analysis and inter-state coordination, has been pivotal in bringing this particular gang to justice. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of digital awareness and prompt reporting in tackling cybercrime.
For cyber-related grievances, victims can lodge complaints at www.cybercrime.gov.in or approach their nearest cyber police station.
