In a significant crackdown, Adugodi Police have dismantled a cybercrime syndicate responsible for defrauding individuals through fake work-from-home job offers. The operation led to the arrest of 12 individuals, including the 24-year-old mastermind Harshavardhan Ojha, a BTech graduate from Prayagraj.
The scam came to light when Sumaiya Banu, a 42-year-old homemaker from LR Nagar, reported a loss of Rs 5 lakh between January 2 and 17. She had been lured by a message offering a part-time work-from-home opportunity. Initially, she was paid Rs 800 for completing a task, but subsequent assignments required her to make payments to ‘improve her credit score’ on a provided platform. Eventually, she transferred a total of Rs 5 lakh, believing it would enable her to withdraw Rs 10.8 lakh. Suspecting foul play, she contacted the 1930 helpline and filed a complaint with the police.
Investigations traced the funds to a bank account in Prayagraj, belonging to Sonu, who revealed that his documents were used by Mumbai-based contractor Raj Mishra to open multiple mule accounts. Mishra admitted to supplying 22 such accounts in exchange for a commission.
The Times of India
Further probing led police to Ojha’s call center in Kamla Nagar, Prayagraj, where 10 telecallers were employed to execute the scam. Authorities seized 400 SIM cards, 140 debit cards, 17 cheque books, 27 mobile phones, and Rs 15,000 in cash. Ojha confessed to operating the racket for over a year.
The arrested individuals include:
Harshavardhan Ojha (24) – Kingpin and call center operator
Raj Mishra (21) – Mumbai-based contractor supplying mule accounts
Sonu (27) – Account holder in Prayagraj
Akash Kumar Yadav (23), Goraknath Yadav (20), Sanjith Kumar Yadav (25), Akash Kumar Singh (19), Amit Yadav (19), Gourav Pratap Singh (22), Brijesh Singh (20), Tushar Mishra (22), Goutam Shailesh (25) – Telecallers from Uttar Pradesh
The police are continuing their investigation to determine the total amount defrauded and to identify any additional victims
