The dedicated cybercrime unit of the Hyderabad police has achieved a significant breakthrough, dismantling several intricate criminal networks responsible for widespread trading and parcel fraud. This operation led to arrests spanning across Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. Authorities revealed that these fraudsters employed a range of deceptive tactics, including fake trading applications, misleading WhatsApp groups, and severe intimidation, resulting in victims collectively losing millions.
One notable case involved the arrest of Inamdar Vinayaka Rajendar (25) and Rishi Thushar Arothe (30) from Vadodara, Gujarat. They were apprehended for operating fraudulent stock market platforms that mimicked legitimate companies. A Hyderabad resident alone was swindled out of an alarming ₹32 lakh through their schemes.
The modus operandi involved showcasing fabricated profits on these deceptive apps, compelling victims to pay extra fees to supposedly ‘withdraw’ their earnings. Once a significant amount was collected, the platforms would abruptly vanish. Police investigations uncovered that Rajendar and Arothe facilitated these scams by providing bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets to other fraudsters. They are linked to at least 12 similar cases nationwide, and notably, Arothe, a former Ranji cricket player, had a prior history of involvement in diverting illicit funds.
Separately, Sanjeev Kumar (49), a businessman from Ludhiana, Punjab, was arrested for defrauding a 69-year-old Hyderabad priest of a staggering ₹1.23 crore. Kumar entrapped the victim by adding him to a WhatsApp group, coaxing him to download a deceptive trading app, and displaying inflated, non-existent profits. The priest was then pressured into making further investments. To lend credibility to his scheme, Kumar managed multiple bank accounts, issued cheques, and even used a fake trading company stamp. He is currently implicated in five similar fraud cases across various states.
The third major arrest was Nikhil Tiwari (25) from Gurugram, Haryana, linked to a notorious ‘FedEx parcel scam’ that targeted a Hyderabad doctor. The doctor received a fabricated notification claiming a package addressed to him contained illegal items like narcotics, police uniforms, and debit cards. Subsequently, he was subjected to harrowing video calls from imposters pretending to be high-ranking law enforcement officials. Under intense pressure and threats, the victim was manipulated into transferring ₹1.23 crore via bank transactions. Tiwari also faces charges in Maharashtra for similar offenses.
In light of these incidents, officials are issuing a strong warning to the public. They urge citizens to remain vigilant against unsolicited investment opportunities, WhatsApp groups guaranteeing unrealistic returns, and any intimidating calls from individuals claiming to represent law enforcement. It is crucial never to transfer funds to unverified accounts and always confirm the legitimacy of any investment platform with regulatory bodies like SEBI before committing any money.