New Delhi, India – October 12 – Delhi Police’s Cyber Crime Unit seized a crypto‑fraud operation that had tricked people into believing they could earn money from home. The raid brought a suspect from Punjab – 25‑year‑old Sukhpreet Singh – into police custody after investigators cracked the scheme that used Instagram ads, a Telegram group and UPI transfers.
The case first came to light on Oct. 5 when a resident of Vishvkarma Nagar, Shahdara, named Sangam Yadav, filed a complaint. Yadav says he saw an Instagram post offering “work‑from‑home” tasks. Clicking the link led him to a Telegram channel where a woman posing as a company employee promised paid online work. Yadav completed a few rating tasks and received a small payout, but then was asked to push ₹55,100 into his account via UPI. Later, when he tried to withdraw his earnings, he was told he must pay extra fees. That was when he realized he had been targeted by a fraudster.
Police followed the money trail and found that ₹29,500 of the hijacked amount had surfaced at a petrol pump in Jagraon, Ludhiana. Using mobile location data, officers traced the activity to Sukhpreet Singh. When questioned, Singh confirmed he was an active member of a Telegram crypto group that traded USDT – a type of cryptocurrency – for profit. He bought USDT at market rates of ₹94‑₹98 a unit and sold it within the group for ₹105. Singh admitted he knew the INR came from illegal sources, so he used multiple phone accounts, SIM cards and different outlets – including a petrol station – to move the money and avoid detection.
During the investigation, Delhi Police confiscated three mobile phones, six SIM cards and twelve ATM cards from Singh’s possession. After a two‑day police custody remand, he was handed over to the court for judicial custody. Further digging revealed that the stolen money was spread across several accounts, though an Indian Bank account linked to one of the victims remains untraced.
Delhi Police’s Cyber Crime team highlights that fraudsters often rely on social‑media ads and messaging apps to lure unsuspecting workers. The operation shows the growing risk of “work‑from‑home” scams that promise instant cash in exchange for small tasks. The police urge anyone who receives suspicious job offers or UPI requests to verify the source before transferring funds.
Key takeaways:
* Delhi Police arrested a Punjab suspect in a crypto‑fraud net.
* The scam used Instagram ads, a fake Telegram job offer and UPI payments.
* The victim, Sangam Yadav, was duped out of ₹55,100.
* Investigators found the money moved through petrol pumps and dummy accounts.
* Police seized phones, SIMs, ATM cards linked to the scheme.
This case underscores the importance of staying alert to online job offers and safeguarding personal financial details. If you suspect a scam, report the activity to local law enforcement or the cyber‑crime helpline.
Source: aninews
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
