Shahdara Cyber Police Bust Fake DSA Gang; Two Arrested
Shahdara Cyber Police arrested two for a ₹15 lakh loan fraud involving fake bank agents. ₹6.95 lakh recovered.
In a significant crackdown on financial fraud, the Cyber Police Station Shahdara has dismantled a gang operating under the guise of Direct Selling Agents (DSAs) for private banks. The operation resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of ₹6.95 lakh in cash, following a sophisticated ₹15 lakh loan and overdraft scam.
The Modus Operandi: Impersonation and Deception
The investigation revealed a calculated method used by the gang to target unsuspecting victims. The mastermind, identified as 36-year-old Adeeb Khan, allegedly leveraged his previous professional experience working with various private banks and Bajaj Finserv to build credibility. Khan would identify individuals seeking loans or overdraft facilities and approach them via WhatsApp.
By posing as a legitimate DSA, Khan would offer attractive, low-interest loan options to gain the victim's trust. Once the target was convinced, the gang would request sensitive documents and cheques under the pretext of processing the loan. In one instance, a complainant, Akshay Verma, was instructed to send three cheques—including a blank signed cheque for ₹15 lakh—to an address in Kaushambi via a delivery service. Crucially, the victim never met the accused in person.
The Fraud and Recovery
The gang allegedly misused the ₹15 lakh cheque by depositing it into a "mule" bank account. The funds were then quickly withdrawn through multiple cheques. Following a detailed technical and financial analysis—including the examination of WhatsApp chats, mobile numbers, and transaction trails—the police identified the culprits.
The arrests, made on September 25, include:
- Adeeb Khan: Alleged mastermind of the gang.
- Aneesh Ali: Alleged to have provided the mule bank account and assisted in cash withdrawals.
A third associate, identified as Rajendra, is currently absconding. During the operation, police recovered ₹6.95 lakh in cash (comprising 1,390 notes of ₹500 denomination) from the accused. Investigations suggest the stolen money was being divided among the gang members, with Khan allegedly receiving ₹9 lakh, while Ali and the absconding Rajendra were slated to receive ₹3 lakh each.
Ongoing Investigation
The Delhi Police are continuing their investigation to track down the remaining absconding suspect and recover the rest of the defrauded amount. Authorities are also working to trace the full money trail, identify additional mule accounts, and determine if there are other victims who were targeted using this same fraudulent scheme.