In a significant breakthrough against cybercrime, Noida Sector-113 police have dismantled an organized fraud syndicate, arresting a key woman operative who duped victims by promising easy credit card approvals. The suspect lured people online, extracting sensitive banking details to fund lavish purchases.
Acting on manual intelligence and a tip-off on January 19, officers nabbed Priyanka Vats near Sector-119. From her possession, they recovered gold jewelry worth over Rs 2.15 lakh, including a chain and earrings, along with a bill from the jewelry store and the mobile phone used in scams. The phone’s front camera bore a bindi to obscure her face during video calls.
Interrogations revealed Priyanka operated alongside her husband, Vikrant Vats. The duo created fake Facebook groups and pages advertising HDFC credit cards. They contacted potential victims, convincing them to share screens via apps to ‘process’ applications, thereby stealing credit card and net banking credentials.
With the pilfered information, the couple shopped for gold jewelry online and collected it from stores. Priyanka confessed to using the bindi trick to hide her identity. A resident of Vijay Bihar Colony, Rohini, Delhi, the 29-year-old now faces intense questioning as police probe her husband’s role.
Authorities urge the public to stay vigilant against cyber threats. No legitimate bank or customer service ever asks for OTPs, passwords, or card details over the phone. Beware of unsolicited calls, screen-sharing requests, and flashy social media offers. Victims should immediately dial the 1930 helpline to report incidents and freeze accounts.
This arrest underscores the growing menace of digital frauds disguised as financial opportunities, prompting renewed calls for cyber awareness across urban India.