Bareilly Police Bust Interstate Mobile Theft-Cyber Fraud Racket; Two

 Jharkhand Gang Members Arrested, 12 Stolen Phones Recovered

Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh): In a major breakthrough against organised cybercrime, the Cyber Crime Police in Bareilly have arrested two alleged members of an interstate gang involved in mobile phone theft and online banking fraud. Investigators said the gang stole mobile phones from crowded public places and supplied them to cybercriminals, who allegedly used victims' SIM cards, banking applications and other digital data stored on the devices to gain unauthorised access to bank accounts and siphon off money through online transactions.

The accused, identified as Rahul Kumar and Rahim Ansari, both residents of the Shivapahada area under Tinpahar police station in Sahibganj district of Jharkhand, were arrested near Bareilly railway junction during a late-night operation based on electronic surveillance and specific intelligence inputs.

According to police, preliminary investigation has revealed suspected links between the gang and cybercrime syndicates operating from Jamtara and Dumka in Jharkhand and Nalanda in Bihar. These regions have frequently figured in investigations related to organised cyber fraud, and officials believe the stolen devices were routed to these networks for financial crimes.

Police officials said Rahul Kumar has four criminal cases registered against him, while both accused are being interrogated to identify other members of the network and trace its operational and financial structure.

Investigation Expands

The latest arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into an interstate cybercrime network. Officials said four members of the same gang had already been arrested on July 13 and remanded to judicial custody. Two more suspects remain absconding, and police teams are conducting raids to apprehend them.

During the operation, police recovered 12 stolen mobile phones, including an iPhone that had recently been stolen from the Bhojipura area of Bareilly. Investigators are carrying out forensic examination of the recovered devices to determine whether they were used in other cyber fraud cases reported from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states.

Case at a Glance

Mobile Theft Turned into Cyber Fraud

According to investigators, the gang followed a well-planned modus operandi. Members allegedly targeted crowded markets, vegetable markets, railway stations, bus stands and other busy public places where unsuspecting people were vulnerable to mobile theft.

Rather than selling the stolen phones in the grey market, the devices were allegedly supplied to organised cyber fraud networks. Investigators said these networks exploited active SIM cards, banking applications, UPI accounts, saved passwords and other sensitive digital information stored on the phones to access victims' financial accounts and transfer money without authorisation.

Officials believe the racket transformed ordinary mobile theft into a sophisticated cybercrime operation capable of causing substantial financial losses to victims.

Complaint That Triggered the Probe

The investigation began after Shivshankar, a resident of the Atria area under CB Ganj police station, reported that his mobile phone had been stolen while he was purchasing vegetables in Bareilly.

According to the complaint, nearly ₹5.24 lakh was withdrawn from his bank account through unauthorised online transactions shortly after the theft. Technical surveillance, analysis of digital evidence and electronic tracking eventually led investigators to the organised interstate gang operating from Jharkhand.

Interrogation Reveals Wider Network

During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted their involvement in several mobile thefts reported from Bhojipura, Nawabganj, Rithora and CB Ganj areas of Bareilly.

Police suspect the stolen devices were systematically transported to cybercrime hubs, where specialised fraudsters extracted financial information and used the victims' digital identities to commit online banking fraud. Investigators are now matching the disclosures made by the accused with previously registered theft complaints and examining the financial trail connected to the gang.

Officials are also identifying individuals involved in purchasing stolen mobile phones and facilitating cyber fraud operations across state borders.

Probe Continues

Police said the investigation is now focused on dismantling the entire interstate network involved in stealing mobile phones, transporting them to cybercrime syndicates and misusing victims' digital information for financial fraud.

Further arrests are expected as investigators continue to analyse digital evidence, recover financial trails and identify additional members of the organised racket. Officials also urged the public to immediately report mobile thefts, block SIM cards without delay and secure banking applications to minimise the risk of cyber fraud.

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