In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, the Cyber Crime Cell of CID Crime, Gandhinagar, has arrested seven individuals from Banaskantha, Gujarat, for orchestrating a nationwide scam targeting BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) players through fake Instagram accounts.
The accused lured victims by offering in-game UC coins at discounted prices. Initially, they would transfer a small number of coins to gain trust, then falsely claim the victim’s gaming ID had been reported and was at risk of being banned. They extorted more money under the pretense of removing the reports and promising refunds that never materialized.
Payments were collected via QR codes shared on WhatsApp, and victims were left empty-handed with neither UC coins nor refunds.
On Thursday, CID officials raided a residence in Nidhi Bungalows Society, Palanpur, and arrested the following individuals:
Shailesh Chaudhary (21) – Ranesari village, Tharad
Sendha Chaudhary (22) – Kumbhardi village, Vav
Jitendra Chaudhary (20) – Sherau village, Tharad
Suresh Chaudhary (20) – Lodnor village, Tharad
Rahulkumar Chaudhary (20) – Patiyasra village, Tharad
Narsinh Chaudhary (19) – Kumbhardi village, Vav
Rahul Chaudhary (19) – Savarakha village, Tharad
A technical examination of their mobile phones and financial records revealed that the scam spanned 21 Indian states. Complaints against the group appeared on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCCRP), including 39 verified cases from 14 states. Authorities discovered that the gang used 25 bank accounts with total transactions amounting to Rs2.11 crore between 2024 and 2025.
Items seized include:
13 mobile phones
14 bank passbooks
40 cheque books
88 debit/credit cards
Rs1.5 lakh in cash
An FIR has been registered at the State Cyber Crime Police Station, under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (cheating by personation using digital means), and Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, which pertain to identity theft and digital impersonation.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify more victims and trace remaining funds.
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