New Delhi: Two fraudsters have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a Rs 20 lakh “UPI hijack scam,” police said on Tuesday.
The duo, linked to over 100 similar fraud cases across the city, used stolen mobile phones to gain access to banking apps and initiate transactions. The investigation began after a victim reported unauthorised withdrawals from his bank account after losing his phone.
Police said that the case came to light when a resident of north-west Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar reported the theft of his phone on Nov 8, 2024. He obtained a new SIM card on Nov 12. “However, just days later, he received alarming notifications of unauthorised transactions from his bank account, totalling a staggering Rs 20 lakh,” a senior police officer said.
A case was registered, leading to an investigation into the cyber fraud. Deputy commissioner (outer north) Nidhin Valsan said: “Our team tracked the stolen phone’s details, obtained call records of suspected numbers, and traced the financial trail, leading to the identification of Gagan (25) and Ajit (24). We conducted raids at multiple locations, including in Vrindavan and Delhi, and after gathering sufficient evidence, we arrested both individuals.”
The accused, Gagan and Ajit, used stolen phones to scam people. Gagan, a BTech dropout, purchased lost or stolen phones. “These devices were hard-reset using online tutorials to bypass security features. Once the phones were reset, the duo exploited banking apps still in them and used Aadhaar-linked authentication to reset PINs and do fraudulent transactions,” DCP Valsan said. Funds were transferred to fake accounts.
The police seized several phones, debit cards linked to fraudulent accounts, and Rs 1.05 lakh in cash.
