The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested three men from Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, uncovering a massive fraud racket that collected Rs 5 crore in the name of aiding Gaza war victims but diverted the money for personal use and suspected anti-national activities.
According to ATS officials, the scam extended beyond Bhiwandi and Uttar Pradesh, spanning at least 20 states across India. The operation was reportedly masterminded by an individual based in Greece, who coordinated the nationwide fundraising network.
The ATS began tracking the suspects after intelligence revealed 50 transactions linked to Uttar Pradesh bank accounts. Upon confirming their locations, authorities obtained non-bailable warrants to proceed with arrests.
On Saturday, joint teams from UP ATS and local police conducted late-night raids in Bhiwandi, apprehending three natives — Mohammad Ayaan, Zaid Notiyar, and Abu Sufiyan, all 22 years old — from separate locations.
Sources said the Greece-based handler instructed the trio to launch social media campaigns exploiting humanitarian sentiments. Multiple Instagram accounts, WhatsApp groups, and online platforms circulated emotional appeals and videos portraying the suffering of women and children in Gaza, urging netizens to donate.
Donations were collected through UPI IDs and personal bank accounts. However, investigations revealed that a large portion of the funds never reached any humanitarian efforts. Instead, the money was embezzled and diverted for personal gain and potentially linked anti-national activities.
The funds were moved via digital wallets and layered bank transfers before being funneled through Greece and withdrawn in Central European countries. This complex money trail resembles laundering techniques used by global illicit networks to conceal fund origins.
Authorities seized three cellphones used to manage the social media campaigns, communications, and transactions. Forensic analysis is underway to uncover donor details, money trails, and possible foreign contacts.
The digital evidence confirmed regular instructions from the Greece-based mastermind, highlighting the trio’s role as local operatives within an international syndicate.
Following the confirmation of the fraud, the Lucknow ATS registered cases under relevant BNS sections. The accused were produced in a Mumbai court and remanded for transfer to Lucknow, where further interrogation and legal proceedings will continue.
An ATS official commented, “The accused exploited humanitarian sentiments during a global crisis to defraud innocent citizens. This case demonstrates how cyber platforms are misused for large-scale fundraising scams disguised as relief work.”
