🇮🇳 India's first community scam intelligence platform — search before you trust⚡ UPI Fraud? File a report in 60 seconds and protect others📞 Cybercrime Helpline 1930 — free, 24×7, available across all states🛡️ Your report is anonymous — speak up, keep India safe🏛️ Know your rights — explore Citizen Ethics from birth to death🔍 86,420 cybercrime cases were registered in India in 2023 (NCRB)🇮🇳 India's cybercrime cases are nearly 9× higher than in 2014 (NCRB)🇮🇳 3,82,632 cybercrime cases registered in India from 2014 to 2023 (NCRB, via MHA)📞 ₹7,130 crore+ saved in 23.02 lakh+ cyber-fraud complaints through India's helpline system (I4C, MHA)🇮🇳 India's first community scam intelligence platform — search before you trust⚡ UPI Fraud? File a report in 60 seconds and protect others📞 Cybercrime Helpline 1930 — free, 24×7, available across all states🛡️ Your report is anonymous — speak up, keep India safe🏛️ Know your rights — explore Citizen Ethics from birth to death🔍 86,420 cybercrime cases were registered in India in 2023 (NCRB)🇮🇳 India's cybercrime cases are nearly 9× higher than in 2014 (NCRB)🇮🇳 3,82,632 cybercrime cases registered in India from 2014 to 2023 (NCRB, via MHA)📞 ₹7,130 crore+ saved in 23.02 lakh+ cyber-fraud complaints through India's helpline system (I4C, MHA)

Report Scams

For a Better India

Updating protected services for a safer Bharat. Jai Hind.

Punjab Fake Passport & Visa Gang | Report Scams

← Back to live cases

arrestedFake Job FraudJalandhar / Amritsar, Punjab

Punjab Fake Passport & Visa Gang

An inter-State cyber fraud gang targeted a prominent industrialist, the chairman of Vardhman Group, S.P. Oswal, duping him of ₹7 crore. According to police reports, the fraudsters executed an elaborate scam using fake Supreme Court hearings, forged arrest warrants, and digital arrest tactics to instill fear and avoid public scrutiny.

State

Punjab

First reported

May 2023

Estimated victims

20,000+

Amount alleged

₹1,000+ Cr (alleged)

Agency involved

Punjab Police Cyber Crime Police Station, Ludhiana

Arrests

Two suspects arrested (Atanoo Chaudhary and Anand Kumar Chaudhary); five others at large

Recovery

₹5.25 crore recovered

Status

Two suspects arrested and under investigation; manhunt underway for five remaining culprits

The full story

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

The accused posed as CBI officials and falsely claimed that a parcel containing fake passports and debit cards bound for Malaysia had been intercepted under the industrialist's Aadhaar card. Capitalizing on his standing, they coerced him into transferring funds to multiple bank accounts under the pretext that the money would be refunded after clearance.

The scam came to light when the victim consulted his manager, who raised suspicions and contacted authorities. The Cyber Crime Police Station in Ludhiana launched an investigation, resulting in the arrest of two individuals from Guwahati, Assam, and the recovery of a significant portion of the defrauded funds.

Not yet reported: The reports do not detail the exact identities or roles of the five absconding suspects.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

Two suspects have been arrested from Assam, and police have recovered ₹5.25 crore of the defrauded amount while searching for five other accomplices who remain at large.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

A prominent industrialist and chairman of Vardhman Group based in Punjab.

Timeline

Key dates as reported, oldest first.

September 29, 2024Punjab Police announced the arrest of two cyber criminals and the busting of the inter-State fraud gang.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

Fraudsters contacted the victim via phone, posing as law enforcement or CBI officers.
They claimed a parcel containing fake passports linked to the victim's Aadhaar card had been intercepted.
They initiated video calls set against a simulated CBI office background to establish fake credibility.
They sent forged Supreme Court arrest warrants via WhatsApp to create panic and urgency.
They subjected the victim to 'digital arrest', threatening public embarrassment if he did not comply.
They convinced the victim to transfer money to designated bank accounts under the promise of a refund after clearance.

Targeted by something similar?

Call 1930 (free, 24x7) straight away, then file at cybercrime.gov.in. Money reported in the first hours is far easier to freeze.

Report it on Report Scams Emergency guide How these scams work

Keep reading

More cases like this one.

Kerala police crack down on suspects in multi-crore Canada job fraudFake Job Fraud · Multiple States Bengaluru man and daughter’s Rs 5-crore job fraud: Fake offer letters, training centres, salariesFake Job Fraud · Karnataka Fake Jobs, Fake E-Visas: Gujarat Couple Held In ₹1.06 Crore Scam, 29 CheatedFake Job Fraud · Multiple States Bengaluru Fake IT Job Placement FraudFake Job Fraud · Karnataka

Sources and further reading

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

tribuneindia.comOriginal report thehindu.comOriginal report theleaflet.inOriginal report Primary source / searchOpens 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.