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Cheap gold trap on Instagram, Gujarat cops bust interstate…

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activeCyber Crime / Digital ArrestUttar Pradesh

Cheap gold trap on Instagram, Gujarat cops bust interstate fraud racket; arrest 5

Police in Kutch, Gujarat, reported busting an interstate fraud racket that allegedly cheated people across the country by offering gold at prices much lower than market rates through Instagram. Investigators stated that the gang lured buyers using social media advertisements and built confidence by showing genuine gold before ultimately handing over fake gold biscuits and fleeing with the cash.

State

Uttar Pradesh

First reported

October 2026

Agency involved

Gujarat Police

Arrests

5 accused arrested

Status

Five arrested; police examining seized phones and digital chats to trace the wider network.

The full story

Everything you need to know about this case, in one place.

During the operation, authorities arrested five individuals allegedly involved in the scam. Police also recovered one kilogram of genuine gold valued at approximately Rs 1.5 crore, alongside 15 fake gold biscuits, one car, three two-wheelers, and nine mobile phones used in the commission of the crime. The total estimated value of the seized property reached over Rs 1.62 crore.

Law enforcement officials are currently examining the seized digital devices and chat records to determine the full scope of the racket, identify additional victims, and trace the wider network operating across multiple states.

Not yet reported: The articles do not specify the exact total monetary loss suffered by the victims or the specific legal charges filed against the accused.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

Five suspects have been arrested by Gujarat Police, who are currently analyzing seized mobile phones and digital chats to uncover the full extent of the interstate network.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

Unspecified members of the public across the country who were lured by cheap gold offers on Instagram.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

The accused posted advertisements on Instagram promising to sell gold at rates significantly below the prevailing market price.
Interested buyers were lured in by these cheap offers and contacted the perpetrators.
To build trust and convince buyers of authenticity, the accused initially showed them genuine gold.
During the final transaction, the perpetrators handed over fake gold biscuits instead of real gold and fled with the victims' money.

Targeted by something similar?

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Sources and further reading

Optional. The full story is above; these are the original reports it was prepared from.

indiatoday.inOriginal report India TodayOpens via Google News

Prepared by Report Scams, with the help of AI, from the published reports listed above. Check those reports for the latest. Cases here describe allegations. An FIR, arrest or charge is not a finding of guilt. To report a mistake, or to ask for a correction or removal, write to our Grievance Officer. See also the Safe Posting policy.