Meerut Police have arrested two men accused of running a multi-state cyber fraud by posing as bank employees and promising credit card holders higher limits and attractive offers.
The accused have been identified as Shivansh Kumar Sharma from Ghaziabad and Arjun Tank from Delhi.
According to police, the duo allegedly obtained the data of credit card users and contacted them over phone. They introduced themselves as bank representatives and offered services such as increasing credit card limits or providing special deals.
Once victims agreed, the accused allegedly sent links to them through WhatsApp. The victims were asked to enter their bank and credit card information on these pages. The fraudsters then obtained their one-time passwords (OTPs), which were allegedly used to carry out unauthorised transactions and online purchases.
Investigators said the accused frequently travelled to different locations in a Baleno car while carrying out the alleged fraud, making it harder to trace their activities.
The investigation has so far linked the two men to 14 cyber fraud complaints registered across several states, including Bihar, Telangana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Police said 12 of the complaints were linked to Shivansh, while two were linked to Arjun.
Police have recovered 10 mobile phones, four debit cards, two NCMC prepaid cards and the Baleno car allegedly used by the accused. The total amount involved in the cases identified so far is estimated at around Rs 20 lakh, though investigators are examining additional complaints to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud.
A case has been registered against both accused, who have been produced before the court. Police are continuing their investigation into other possible victims and transactions linked to the alleged racket.
Reader’s Note
Banks generally do not require customers to share their OTP, PIN, CVV or complete card details over a phone call or through an unknown link. If someone claiming to be a bank employee offers to increase your credit card limit, verify the offer through the bank’s official app, website or customer-care number.
If you have already entered your details on a suspicious link or shared an OTP, immediately contact your bank, block the card and report the transaction. In India, financial cyber fraud can also be reported through the 1930 cyber fraud helpline and the government’s cybercrime reporting portal. Acting quickly can improve the chances of stopping or recovering the money.
