Cyber Crime
Mastermind Of Multi-Crore Crypto Scam Arrested By UP Police
AZAMGARH: In a major triumph for the Cyber Crime Police in Azamgarh, two scammers have been apprehended in connection with a massive cyber fraud operation that defrauded victims out of crores of rupees through a deceptive cryptocurrency trading platform. The alleged scammers operated under the guise of “Bitbull Coins,” a fake website specifically designed for their fraudulent activities.
Complaint and Investigation
The case began when Durgadutt Maurya from Jahanganj, Azamgarh, filed a complaint on November 3, 2023, at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Azamgarh. He reported that he and several associates had fallen victim to a cyber fraud scheme, resulting in losses of approximately Rs 30 lakhs. The criminals behind the fraudulent operation had set up a fake website, “Bitbull Coins” (www.bitbullcoins.com), which portrayed itself as an investment and crypto trading platform.
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Based on Maurya’s complaint, a case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act. The police swiftly initiated an investigation into the matter.
Successful Arrest and Ongoing Search
Following the complaint the investigation began. Mastermind Santosh Kumar, and his associate Suryabhan Gautam have been arrested, and efforts are underway to locate and apprehend the remaining suspects involved in this scheme.
The Fraudulent Operation
During the interrogation of the arrested accused, Santosh Kumar, explained his fraud crypto investment scheme. He admitted to operating realestate businesses, namely Purvanchal Desire City Pvt. Ltd. and Purvanchal Agro Pvt. Ltd., in Lucknow. These businesses were used to lure unsuspecting individuals into investing their hard-earned money. To bolster the credibility of his scheme, Kumar created a fake website, “Bitbull Coins,” and convinced people to deposit their funds into various bank accounts, all under the pretence of cryptocurrency trading.
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Kumar and his accomplices would go to great lengths, even inviting victims to workshops in hotels. At these workshops, they presented an investment plan that promised a daily return of 2% for an entire year, effectively tripling the amount invested. To add another layer of deception, they provided unsuspecting victims with user IDs for the fake “Bitbull Coins” website and displayed fraudulent Profit/Loss dashboards. Alongside Kumar, his manager, Suryabhan, and team leaders Dhanjay Kumar and Arun Kumar were actively complicit in this scheme, with technical support being outsourced from engineers based in Delhi.
After examining documents seized from the arrested individuals, it became evident that the cyber fraud operation had swindled approximately 200 people out of crores of rupees.
“In our investigation, we uncovered a web of deceit and manipulation orchestrated by these scammers behind Bitbull Coins. They expertly combined technology with cunning persuasion to lure innocent victims into their trap. We are identifying number of people cheated by the gang and people behind operating this scam” said Prof. Triveni Singh, Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime Headquarters, Lucknow
The arrest of these cyber criminals marks a significant milestone in the battle against online fraud. It underscores the unwavering commitment of the Cyber Crime Police in safeguarding citizens from such scams. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities determined to bring all responsible parties to justice and provide restitution to the victims of this elaborate cyber fraud operation.