Chhatrapur Police Bust Two-Year Cyber Fraud Network, Four Arrested
Chhatrapur police have uncovered a massive cyber fraud racket that operated from rural Odisha to Delhi for over two years.
The investigation revealed that mastermind Pabitra Pradhan of Kujidhipa village collaborated with Delhi-based Rajat Sharma to exploit banking systems through fake accounts.
Authorities registered 780 cases and arrested four individuals. Police seized two bank accounts, five mobile phones, one ATM card, and one Aadhaar card, with transactions worth Rs lakh traced.
The fraud involved opening 70–80 bank accounts using Aadhaar details and SIM cards, later couriered to Delhi for use in online gaming and cheating operations.
Each account earned Pradhan Rs 18,000, with intermediaries and account holders receiving smaller cuts.
Shockingly, many account holders were unaware that their identities were being misused.
The fraud came to light when two educated youths discovered duplicate accounts in their names with large transactions.
Police estimate Pradhan earned Rs 15–20 lakh, while intermediaries also profited significantly.
The investigation continues, with authorities working to identify all account holders and expose the full extent of the network.
Officials stressed that despite repeated awareness campaigns, public vigilance remains low, leaving citizens vulnerable to such scams.
