New Delhi: In a daring real-life crime inspired by the popular TV series Money Heist, Delhi Police have busted a cyber fraud gang that swindled ₹50 crore from 200 unsuspecting victims. The gang’s mastermind, Arpit Mishra, known as the ‘Professor’, used fake online trading platforms to lure people with promises of high returns.
How the Gang Operated
The gang targeted victims through exclusive WhatsApp groups, claiming to provide special tips on stock market trading. Once people invested money, they were directed to a fake trading platform with fictitious shares. Victims were lured with the prospect of massive profits, only to find their accounts frozen, after which the gang demanded ransom to release the funds.
Key Arrests
Delhi Police have arrested three main members of the gang:
- Arpit Mishra (‘Professor’) – the mastermind
- Prabhat Vajpayee (‘Amanda’) – a computer expert handling digital communications and money transfers
- Abbas Khan (‘Berlin’) – key operational facilitator of the gang
The operation, code-named ‘Direct Market Account’, came to light after a complaint by Rohit, who lost ₹22 lakh. Police recovered 14 mobile phones, 20 SIM cards, and 32 debit cards from the accused. Investigations to apprehend other gang members are ongoing.
Victims Lured with Fake Promises
A senior police officer revealed that the setup was elaborate: fake trading platforms, bogus shares, and promises of high returns made it seem legitimate. Victims’ funds were quickly transferred, their accounts frozen, and they were threatened with total loss unless ransom was paid.
Cyber Crime DCP Ashish Mishra said, “Our cyber team tracked digital evidence and arrested Vajpayee and Khan locally, while Arpit Mishra was apprehended from Siliguri, West Bengal.”
This case highlights how real-life cybercriminals are taking cues from fictional heist stories, using sophisticated online fraud to target unsuspecting investors.
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