NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police have busted a cyber fraud racket based in the Mewat region, arresting four individuals for allegedly impersonating Indian Air Force (IAF) officials to defraud businessmen. The syndicate used forged documents and communications to dupe victims, with one complainant reporting a loss of over ₹5 lakh.
The Chenab Times has learned that the racket came to light after a businessman approached the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police, alleging he was cheated of more than ₹5 lakh on the pretext of supplying Aluminous Laterite, an industrial-grade material. According to the police, the accused posed as senior officials from the Army and the Indian Air Force, employing forged purchase orders to establish credibility with their targets.
The modus operandi involved instructing the complainant to dispatch the material to an Air Force station. Subsequently, the victim was told he needed to deposit money for vendor registration and account mapping, falsely claiming he was not an approved vendor. Suspecting foul play, the complainant alerted the authorities, initiating an investigation by the Crime Branch.
Technical surveillance and investigation revealed that the SIM cards used in the fraudulent activities were issued from Bulandshahar and Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. However, the operation was traced to fixed locations within the Nuh district of Haryana’s Mewat region. This geographical linkage identified the core operational base of the cyber fraud syndicate.
The four arrested accused have been identified as Manish, a resident of Bulandshahar; Kaushal, from Aligarh; and Amir alias Burhan and Rizwan Ahmed, both residents of Nuh. During interrogation, the arrested individuals disclosed that they operated a well-organized cyber fraud racket by impersonating Indian Air Force officials.
The police further stated that the accused would identify and target businessmen, then place orders for goods using fabricated purchase orders and official-looking documents. Information obtained from the arrested individuals indicated that approximately 30 SIM cards and six bank accounts had been supplied to associates involved in similar fraudulent activities. The police are conducting further investigations, anticipating more arrests in connection with the case.
Authorities noted that such rackets often involve youths from remote areas who engage in cybercrime by impersonating officials. To evade law enforcement scrutiny, these fraudsters procure SIM cards and bank accounts under various names, often using mule identities. The investigation team, comprising several police officers and led by Inspector Kamal Kumar Yadav, worked under the supervision of ACP/ISC, Crime Branch, Ramesh Lamba, to trace and apprehend the suspects.
An FIR has been registered at the Police Station Crime Branch under relevant sections pertaining to forgery and cheating by impersonation. The investigation is ongoing to uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s operations and identify any further accomplices.
The Chenab Times News Desk