Purnia Aadhaar Scam: How a Fake Website Was Used to Loot Lakhs via AEPS
Purnia: In a major breakthrough against cybercrime, Purnia Police have arrested the mastermind of a gang involved in duping people under the pretext of updating Aadhaar cards and linking mobile numbers. The accused used a fake website to steal biometric data and made illegal withdrawals from victims’ bank accounts using the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS).
The arrested accused has been identified as Suraj Kumar alias Suraj Ram, a resident of Jhunni Kala village under K. Nagar police station. He was apprehended from Janakinagar in the Banmankhi area following a joint operation led by the Cyber Police Station and Janakinagar Police.
Modus Operandi: Fake Aadhaar Update to Bank Fraud
According to Cyber DSP Chandan Kumar Thakur, the gang operated a fake website named Tech UCL 2.0 through which they harvested fingerprints, mobile numbers, and bank account details from unsuspecting citizens. The fraud was masked as a legitimate Aadhaar update and mobile linking process.
The mastermind, Suraj Kumar, along with his associates, used this stolen data to withdraw money from victims’ accounts through AEPS. With the illegally earned money, Suraj is said to have amassed property worth several lakhs and led a lavish lifestyle.
Cyber Raid Uncovers Crucial Evidence
On June 8, 2025, the Cyber Police Station received credible inputs about suspicious AEPS transactions being carried out in Jankinagar police station limits. Acting swiftly, SI Santosh Kumar Jha launched an investigation under the direction of SP Purnia and Cyber DSP Thakur.
The probe led to Keshav Common Service Center in Naulakhi, where fraud was reportedly taking place. However, the operator Keshav Kumar had fled before the police arrived. Documents and digital evidence relating to Aadhaar-mobile linking fraud were recovered from the premises.
Further investigation revealed Suraj Kumar’s involvement, and his arrest led to the seizure of:
- A fingerprint scanner
- Monitor, CPU, mouse
- Laptop, mobile phone, and ID cards
A video tutorial about the Tech UCL 2.0 website used for fraud was also retrieved from his mobile phone.
Links with Other CSC Operators
Police sources revealed that Suraj Kumar was running a group named “Ration & Learning License/Tec/IIBF Exam Work Fast”, which includes several Common Service Center (CSC) operators. Many of them are now under the police radar, and raids are ongoing to apprehend other gang members.
Public Advisory
Cyber DSP Chandan Kumar Thakur has urged citizens to only update Aadhaar details at official Aadhaar centers. “People in rural areas must remain cautious. Fraudsters are using fake websites and unauthorized centers to loot people in the name of Aadhaar updates,” he warned.
The successful operation was conducted by a team comprising:
- SI Santosh Kumar Jha (Cyber Police)
- SI Santosh Kumar (Jankinagar Police Station)
- SI Geetanjali Singh
- Constables Tej Bahadur Choubey and Manoj Kumar Pandit
- Chowkidar Rajendra Paswan
Authorities have confirmed that further arrests and seizures are expected as the investigation progresses.
