In a significant cybercrime breakthrough, the State Cyber Crime Cell of the CID (Crime) has arrested seven individuals involved in a large-scale Instagram gaming application scam. The group allegedly lured users by offering in-game coins and then extorted money under false legal threats.
The operation led to the seizure of Rs2 crore across 17 bank accounts and the arrest of the accused in Palanpur. Acting on intelligence about multiple fraud cases linked to Gujarat-based mobile numbers, the CID uncovered suspicious banking activity involving Banaskantha Mercantile Co-operative Bank.
The accused—identified as Shailesh Chaudhary, Sendha Chaudhary, Jitendra Chaudhary, Suresh Chaudhary, Rahul Chaudhary, and Narsinh Chaudhary—allegedly created Instagram accounts mimicking gaming app vendors. They convinced users to buy in-game coins, but later used banking transaction trails to threaten victims with fake criminal charges.
The victims, fearing police involvement, paid large sums of money as so-called “settlements.” The scam was operated from a residence in Nidhi Bungalows, Palanpur, where authorities seized 13 mobile phones, 14 bank passbooks, cheque books, debit and credit cards, and cash.
CID officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests could follow as deeper links in the fraud network are uncovered.
