Police in Uttar Pradesh uncovered a sophisticated cyber‑fraud operation that masqueraded as a Flipkart customer‑support centre from a house in the Shakti Khand neighbourhood of Ghaziabad. The gang targeted online shoppers in at least five states, using stolen customer data to convince victims that their payments had failed and that a fresh payment or verification was required.

Modus Operandi and Scale

Investigators say the perpetrators obtained a database of Flipkart users—primarily from Bihar—through an unidentified source. Armed with mobile numbers, order IDs and payment details, they placed calls that sounded official, often quoting order references to gain credibility. Over the course of the sting, the gang extracted roughly ₹2.5 lakh from unsuspecting buyers, although officials suspect the actual loss could be higher as more complaints are being examined.

Arrests and Ongoing Search

During a raid prompted by tips received via a state cyber‑crime portal, police seized ten mobile phones, ₹20,010 in cash and arrested six individuals: Raju Kumar, Aditya, Virat Chaudhary, Ashish, Pankaj Sharma and Khushi. Two alleged masterminds, identified only as Kajal and Siddharth, remain fugitives. Siddharth is believed to have supplied the customer database and coordinated the call scripts.

Broader Implications

The case underscores the growing sophistication of Indian cyber‑fraud rings that exploit the trust placed in e‑commerce platforms. Similar complaints have been logged in Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Telangana, and a related case in Cyberabad, Telangana, appears linked to the same network. The IMEI numbers of the confiscated phones match several other fraud complaints, suggesting a wider, possibly interstate, operation.

Next Steps

Authorities are analysing the seized digital devices to map connections with other ongoing investigations, trace the bank accounts used to launder the proceeds, and identify additional members of the syndicate. ACP Surya Bali Maurya of Indirapuram emphasized that intelligence shared through the cyber‑crime portal was crucial in dismantling the fake call centre, and that efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects are intensifying.