The Delhi Police Cyber Cell has dismantled a major international cyber fraud syndicate that was operating across multiple Indian states and maintaining deep connections with overseas criminals in Cambodia. Five suspects have been arrested for their role in an elaborate online investment scam that defrauded unsuspecting individuals of over ₹4.25 crore. The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on transnational cybercrime networks exploiting digital payment systems and cryptocurrencies.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Amit Goyal, the accused were identified as Vikram and Hari Kishan from Haryana, Mukul from Punjab, Akshay from Himachal Pradesh, and Mangu Singh from Rajasthan. Mangu Singh has been identified as the key coordinator of the entire operation, running the scam through a Telegram group named “ATPay,” which was directly linked to handlers and fraud operators based in Cambodia. Police believe Singh was the main point of contact between the Indian operatives and their foreign counterparts.
The gang primarily lured victims through false online investment schemes, promising quick profits through cryptocurrency and stock trading platforms. Once the victims invested money, the funds were diverted into multiple-layered bank accounts opened under fake identities, before being converted into cryptocurrency. The crypto assets were then routed to digital wallets based in Cambodia, effectively erasing the money trail and making it difficult for investigators to trace the final destination of the funds.
One complainant reported losing ₹10.7 lakh after being enticed by the gang’s promise of high returns on an online trading platform. Police found that similar patterns of fraud had been executed across several states, with victims transferring funds to accounts controlled by the accused under the pretext of trading investments.
During a series of coordinated raids in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, officers recovered 13 mobile phones, eight SIM cards, nine checkbooks, three registers, and one laptop — all believed to have been used for managing fraudulent transactions and maintaining communication with foreign handlers. Police have also obtained data logs that may help uncover the extent of the gang’s digital operations and identify other members of their network.
DCP Goyal confirmed that a formal case has been registered under multiple sections related to cheating and cyber fraud, and that further investigation is underway to trace additional financial transactions and international connections. The Delhi Police have also reached out to Interpol and the Ministry of External Affairs for assistance in tracking suspects based in Cambodia who are believed to be orchestrating similar cyber scams across Southeast Asia.
Authorities have warned that the case highlights a growing pattern of cybercrime operations using cryptocurrency channels and encrypted platforms such as Telegram to execute and conceal cross-border financial fraud. The investigation continues, with police focusing on dismantling the wider network and freezing assets linked to the accused.
