New Delhi, Nov 7 : Delhi Police have dismantled a high profile cybercrime racket inspired by the hit web series Money Heist, arresting three fraudsters who allegedly cheated people of over ₹150 crore through fake online investment schemes.
The accused identified as Arpit, Prabhat, and Abbas operated under aliases borrowed from the show’s characters, calling themselves “Professor”, “Freddy”, and “Amanda”. According to police, the trio led a lavish lifestyle, staying in luxury hotels while running a sophisticated online scam that spanned multiple states.
Fraud Modeled on Fake Investment Schemes
The case surfaced after a resident of northeast Delhi filed a complaint, claiming he had been duped of ₹22 lakh by fraudsters posing as financial advisors. The accused added him to a WhatsApp group offering “exclusive stock market tips” and convinced him to invest through a fake “Direct Market Account”. Once the funds were transferred, his access was blocked, and additional payments were demanded.
Trail Leads to Noida and Guwahati
Following the complaint, Delhi Police tracked the digital and financial trail across states, uncovering the gang’s base in Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Guwahati (Assam). Raids in Noida and Siliguri (West Bengal) led to the seizure of 11 mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, 12 bank passbooks/chequebooks, and 32 debit cards, along with records of online transactions.
Fake Identities and Wider Cybercrime Links
Investigators revealed that the gang created detailed fake profiles to pose as market experts and gain victims’ trust. Arpit, a trained lawyer, acted as the “Professor”, while Prabhat and Abbas played “Amanda” and “Freddy”.
Authorities are probing possible links between this gang and a ₹23-crore “digital arrest” scam, suggesting ties to larger cyber syndicates operating across multiple cities.
Police Crackdown Continues
A senior police officer said the trio had been operating for several months, defrauding hundreds through manipulated stock trading and cryptocurrency groups.
“The accused ran a well organised cyber syndicate using layered digital networks and movie style tactics to dupe investors. Further investigation is ongoing to trace additional members and recover the defrauded amount,” the officer added.