Patna: As the ongoing T-20 World Cup fuels cricket fever across the country, cyber fraudsters are exploiting the craze to dupe unsuspecting fans with fake betting schemes promising quick profits. Police in Kadamkuan have arrested six members of an interstate racket accused of cheating hundreds of people of crores of rupees.
Acting on a tip-off, Kadamkuan police raided a house near Kathpul and apprehended Harish Kumar, Sumit Kumar, Chhotu Kumar and Amarjeet Kumar from Sonvarsha in Saharsa district, Hariom Kumar from Alam Nagar in Madhepura, and Kundan Kumar from Bhagalpur. During the raid, officers seized four laptops, six mobile phones, WiFi equipment, and more than two dozen PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, passbooks, cheque books, ATM cards and debit cards.
According to police, the gang lured cricket enthusiasts through social media advertisements offering high returns on T-20 match betting. Victims were persuaded to stake Rs 1,000 per six and Rs 500 per four, with promises of doubling their investment. Once money was transferred, the accused allegedly blocked the victims’ mobile numbers and disappeared.
Investigators said the kingpin of the racket is operating from Lucknow and is believed to have masterminded the advertisements and coordinated the network. Police estimate that the group has cheated hundreds of people, siphoning off crores of rupees. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Town-1) Rajesh Ranjan said other members of the gang have been identified and will be arrested soon.
The racket came to light after a local youth grew suspicious of the activities of several young men staying in a flat in Kadamkuan and alerted the police. A subsequent raid led to the arrests.
In a separate but related development, multiple cyber fraud cases have been registered at the cyber police station involving similar tactics.
In one case, Chandradev Singh of Maner received a call from a fraudster posing as a telecom department official, claiming that several SIM cards had been issued using his Aadhaar details and that a complaint had been filed by Maharashtra’s Colaba Police. Shortly afterward, another caller posing as a police officer informed him that his name had surfaced in a money laundering case and that an arrest warrant had been issued. A fake warrant was also sent to him via WhatsApp.
The caller instructed Singh to transfer all funds from his bank account for “verification,” assuring him the money would be returned within 72 hours. Believing the claims, he transferred Rs 5.50 lakh. When the amount was not returned and the phone number became unreachable, he realized he had been cheated.
In another case, Anil Kumar, a resident of PC Colony in West Champaran, said he invested money after seeing an Instagram advertisement by a person identifying himself as Pankaj Bhardwaj, who promised double returns. After initially receiving profits on a small investment, Anil transferred Rs 1.74 lakh but received neither the principal nor the promised returns.
Similarly, Avinash Kumar of Kankarbagh was allegedly duped of Rs 1.32 lakh, while Shashibhushan of Sandalpur lost Rs 1.15 lakh through the same modus operandi.
In Gaurichak, Kunkun Kumar reported that his mobile phone was snatched by miscreants. After blocking his SIM and obtaining a new one, he discovered that Rs 1.52 lakh had been withdrawn from his account. Guddu of Khagaul also reported an unauthorized withdrawal of Rs 1.87 lakh from his account without receiving any call or message alert.
In yet another incident, Reshma of Phulwari Sharif went to withdraw cash from an SBI ATM when her card got stuck in the machine. She called a mobile number displayed at the ATM kiosk and was asked to enter her PIN. When the card did not come out, she was told to lower the shutter of the ATM cabin and leave. Shortly thereafter, Rs 1.12 lakh was withdrawn from her account.
Police have urged citizens to remain alert during the T-20 World Cup season and avoid falling prey to online betting scams, fake arrest warrants, and ATM fraud. Investigations are ongoing.
