Azamgarh police have successfully busted an organized cyber fraud gang that was operating under the guise of an online game called Cricket Buzz. Seven members of the gang have been arrested, and authorities have uncovered fraudulent transactions amounting to approximately Rs 95 crore across 208 bank accounts. Additionally, Rs 1 crore has been frozen, and police have seized items worth Rs 15 lakh, including Rs 20,000 in cash, 51 mobile phones, four laptops, 42 ATM cards, 13 bank passbooks, 79 SIM cards, four cheque books, and one fiber router.
According to Azamgarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hemraj Meena, the arrests were made from Pandeypur in the Badalalpur police station area of Varanasi district. The fraudsters used platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook to lure victims into joining the fraudulent website, promising to double or triple their money through online games or tasks. Victims were directed to transfer their money to fake accounts and mobile phones.
The gang operated in collaboration with individuals not only from India but also from Sri Lanka and the UAE, exchanging the illegally earned money. Among the seven arrested, six individuals are from Uttar Pradesh, and one is from West Bengal. The gang is connected to 45 cyber fraud complaints filed across various states.
SSP Meena added that the group originally operated in Azamgarh but shifted to Varanasi after police arrested 11 members in November 2024. The gang created channels on WhatsApp and Telegram, using platforms like Instagram and Facebook to trap victims. They promised large returns from fake games and tasks, only to steal their money.
The arrests were made by a joint team of cybercrime police from Azamgarh and the SWAT team in Pandeypur, Badalalpur police station, Varanasi district. The arrested individuals have been identified as:
Shubham Jaiswal (Mirzapur district)
Dhanjeet Yadav (Jaunpur district)
Ajay Yadav (Varanasi district)
Abhay Rai (Chandauli district)
Avinash Rai (Asansol, West Bengal)
Shubham Yadav (Varanasi district)
Piyush Yadav (Jaunpur district)
Further investigations are underway as police work to uncover more details about the network and any other accomplices.
