Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 14 May: In a significant operation, the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) Cyber Crime Police in Dehradun have arrested a member of a cyber-gang from Noida in Uttar Pradesh for perpetrating fraud by reactivating lapsed insurance policies. The arrested accused, along with his gang, had duped a resident of Dehradun of nearly Rs 26 lakhs by posing as an official of PNB MetLife Insurance. The shrewd criminal had received Rs 20 lakhs through transactions into various accounts linked to him in this scam.
SSP Ajai Singh of Uttarakhand STF shared that a resident of Patel Nagar in Dehradun had lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Dehradun regarding the cyber fraud. The complainant had informed that he held three policies with PNB MetLife Insurance but had been unable to pay premiums for the past two years due to certain reasons. In October 2025, an unknown cyber fraudster called him, introducing himself as an official or employee of PNB MetLife and claimed the lapsed policies could be reactivated to earn profits. The fraudster urged the victim to speak with his “head babu”. Falling for the ruse, the complainant deposited money into various accounts as instructed. Later, upon verifying with the insurance company’s customer care, he discovered he had been cheated of Rs 25,90,000. He then filed the complaint, leading to registration of a case under sections 318(4) and 61(2) of BNS and 66D of IT Act at the Cyber Crime Police Station Dehradun.
Recognising the gravity of the matter, SSP STF issued directions for swift investigation and disclosure of the case. The cyber-crime police corresponded with banks concerned, service provider companies, and Meta Company to obtain data on the bank accounts, registered mobile numbers, and WhatsApp details used in the incident. Analysis of the data helped identify the cyber-criminal and a search was launched. Acting under legal provisions, the cyber police team apprehended the accused identified as Suraj, son of Vijay Chauhan, resident of Sector-31, Nithari, Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, aged about 21 years. He, along with associates, would gather information on people’s lapsed policies and lure them with promises of reactivation and profits to execute cyber frauds. Interrogation revealed that he used his bank accounts to launder the proceeds, receiving commissions. He had opened several accounts in his name, which were either rented out or sold for cyber frauds. In this Dehradun cyber police case, Rs 20 lakhs had been received in two of his accounts. Probe showed that the bank accounts used for this cyber-crime had transactions worth Rs 42 lakhs in just a few months. Efforts are now underway to contact police in other states for information on other involved accused.
The arrested accused is Suraj, son of Vijay Chauhan, resident of Sector-31, Nithari, Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, aged about 21 years.
SSP STF Ajai Singh has appealed to the public not to lend their bank accounts to anyone, as renting or giving accounts on commission is a crime. Do not share ATM card details, OTP, PIN, or UPI PIN. Immediately inform the bank or police if unknown funds arrive in your account and avoid engaging in video calls from unknown numbers or sharing any information or documents. If someone posing as police, CBI, or ED threatens digital arrest, do not panic as no agency makes online arrests.
