Police Bust Multi-State Gang Operating Work-From-Home Scam; Victim Lost ₹5 Lakh
Bengaluru, May 15 – In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, Bengaluru police have arrested 12 individuals allegedly involved in a cybercrime racket that duped people through fraudulent work-from-home job offers. The accused reportedly belong to a gang with roots in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.The arrests were made following a complaint lodged in January at the Adugodi police station by a homemaker, who reported losing ₹5 lakh after being deceived under the guise of a remote job offer.
According to the police, the victim was convinced to transfer the money in several transactions to "correct her low credit score" — a supposed prerequisite to receive job payments. Believing the pitch, she complied, only to realise later that she had been scammed.
A senior officer said the investigation led authorities to a bank account linked to 27-year-old Sonu from Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. He and Harshavardhan Ojha, 25, from Uttar Pradesh, were identified as key suspects and subsequently arrested.
Interrogation revealed that Sonu had created multiple bank accounts using the credentials of labour contract workers and then forwarded passbooks, ATM cards, and SIM cards to his Uttar Pradesh-based accomplices. He earned ₹1,500 for each account, with accounts from nationalised banks fetching commissions of up to ₹20,000.
Further investigation resulted in the arrest of 10 more gang members, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Police recovered a massive cache of items used in the scam including 400 SIM cards, 140 ATM cards, 17 cheque books, 27 mobile phones, 22 bank passbooks, an income-expense ledger, and ₹15,000 in cash.
The police have urged the public to remain vigilant against job offers that demand upfront payments or personal financial details. The case highlights the growing sophistication of cybercrime rings exploiting economic anxieties and digital vulnerabilities.
