Fatehpur: In a major breakthrough, the Cyber Cell of Fatehpur district in Uttar Pradesh has arrested three alleged masterminds who posed as IPS and police inspectors to extort money from people across the country. The shocking raid took place in Bhagwanpur village under Gajipur police station limits, where the accused had set up a fake police office under a banyan tree to run their operations.
According to officials, the racket was far bigger than expected. Initial investigations suggest that nearly two dozen villagers may be involved in the elaborate cyber-fraud network, which specialized in threatening victims by falsely accusing them of watching obscene or pornographic videos online.
Fake Officers, Real Threats
The three arrested men had no police training or educational qualifications, yet impersonated senior police officers with remarkable confidence. They would call unsuspecting victims, identify themselves as IPS or Inspectors, and intimidate them with fabricated allegations. In exchange for dropping the “charges,” they demanded large sums of money.
Whenever police teams attempted to track them, the accused would switch off their mobile phones and disappear for days. However, the Cyber Cell placed them under technical surveillance and finally traced their location. Acting on a tip-off from an informant, the police carried out the operation on Monday (24 November) and arrested the trio.
A Village Engulfed in Cyber Crime
The police claim that Bhagwanpur village has become a hub for this form of extortion, with dozens of locals participating in the scam. Many villagers are believed to have been making calls nationwide, threatening people and extorting money by invoking fake pornography charges.
Officials revealed that the accused have already cheated victims out of several lakhs of rupees, and the extent of the scam may be much larger. Call Detail Record (CDR) analysis is now being used to identify more members of the network.
Police Crack Down, More Arrests Likely
Following victims’ complaints, the Cyber Cell initiated a detailed investigation that led to the gang’s exposure. The three arrested men have been interrogated and subsequently sent to judicial custody. Meanwhile, search operations are underway to locate and apprehend the remaining members of the group.
Authorities have assured that the entire network will be dismantled and all culprits will be brought behind bars soon.
