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Public fraud alerts from Indian national media, explained in plain language

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Public online financial fraud alerts from Indian national media, explained in plain language — check a clue, browse reports, search shared numbers and links.

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Public fraud alerts for India

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Varanasi Police Unraveled a Gang Selling Bogus SIMs Used in Cyber Scams | Fraud Alert | RISX by Kncok
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  3. Varanasi Police Unraveled a Gang Selling Bogus SIMs Used in Cyber Scams

Varanasi Police Unraveled a Gang Selling Bogus SIMs Used in Cyber Scams

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Source: The 420

This page summarises the reported incident in plain language — what happened, who may be affected, and what to watch for before trusting a message, call, or link.

This is a summary of a reported incident, not a verdict. Read the disclaimer.

If this just happened to you

Do these steps in order. Speed matters.

  1. Stop the call or chat. Do not click more links or send money.
  2. Call your bank's official helpline (on your card or the bank website) and ask to block cards and freeze transfers.
  3. Call 1930 within 24 hours and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
  4. Save evidence — screenshots, numbers, links, and messages.

More reporting channels and helplines are below. Full reporting channels & helplines →

Alert summary (plain language)

Varanasi police busted a gang that supplied fake SIM cards to cybercriminals across India. Four suspects were arrested for defrauding individuals through counterfeit SIMs enabled by double KYC misuse....

Key details

Published on

18 August 2025 at 12:00 pm

Reported by

The 420

State

Uttar Pradesh

City

Varanasi

Sources

RISX summarises public reporting into plain-language alerts. Always check the original source — wording and dates may change after publication.

Alert last updated from feed: 18 August 2025 at 12:00 pm

  • The 420

    https://the420.in/varanasi-cyber-sim-fraud-gang-busted/

Common scam keywords

Words and phrases scammers use in this kind of scam. If you see them in a message, treat it as a .

sim card frauddouble kyc misusecounterfeit simbiometric fraudunauthorized sim activationfake pos agentcourier distributionidentity thefttelecom fraud

Topics

organized crimetelecom misuseidentity theftkyc manipulationfraud infrastructurearrest mademulti-state operationbiometric fraud

(numbers, IDs, links, domains)

Specific things tied to this scam. Tap any item to see other alerts where it appears.

Sunil Yadav (arrested suspect)Shubham Agrahari alias Gopal (arrested suspect)Neyaz Ahmed (arrested suspect)Arun Tripathi (arrested suspect)71 SIM cards (11 active, 60 inactive)Biometric deviceFour Android phonesINR 18,490 (seized cash)Azamgarh's PandeypurNai BastiHartirathDelhi (destination of fake SIMs)

What to do for this type of scam

Use this if you got similar messages or may have already lost money. Check red flags first, then first-hour steps.

  • Red flags for this scam type
  • If affected — first steps
  • Official reporting channels & helplines

Red flags this scam usually shows

If a message, call, or page involves any of these, treat it as suspicious — even if it looks like the alert above.

  • Pushes you to act in a hurry

    Real organizations give you time. Threats like 'your account will be closed in 30 minutes' are designed to panic you into mistakes.

  • Asks for OTP, PIN, CVV, or password

    Banks, UPI apps, government offices, and police never ask for these. Anyone asking is trying to steal your money.

  • Sends you a link or APK to install

    Tapping unknown links or installing unverified apps can give scammers full access to your phone and bank accounts.

  • Asks for an advance, processing fee, or 'refund tax'

    Real refunds, prizes, jobs, or loans never require you to pay first. If you must pay to receive something, it is a scam.

  • Offer sounds too good to be true

    Huge cashback, guaranteed jobs, lottery wins, or sky-high returns are classic bait. If it feels unreal, it is.

Time-sensitive

If you were affected by this scam

First-hour steps — the crisis box above covers the emergency call to 1930.

  1. 1

    Stop the call or chat right now

    Hang up, leave the chat, and do not click any more links. Every extra minute is more risk. Take a breath; you are not alone in this.

  2. 2

    Block your card and freeze the account

    Call your bank's official helpline (printed on the back of your card or on the bank's website) and ask them to block the card and temporarily freeze online transactions. Do not call numbers a stranger gave you.

  3. 3

    Change passwords and revoke device access

    Change passwords for net banking, UPI apps, and email. In your UPI app, remove any 'linked devices' you do not recognize. Turn on two-factor authentication where possible.

  4. 4

    Report to the National Cyber Crime Helpline within 24 hours

    Call 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Reporting within the first 24 hours gives the best chance of freezing the money before it moves.

    Open cybercrime.gov.in

Official reporting channels

Use one of these official channels. Early reporting maximises recovery potential.

  • National Cyber Crime Helpline

    Start here

    First call for any online financial fraud. Operators help you file a complaint and can request banks to freeze the recipient account.

    Call 1930Open website24x7

  • cybercrime.gov.in

    Official portal of the Government of India to report cyber crime, including financial fraud, social media misuse, and crimes against women and children.

    Open websiteOnline, anytime

  • Sanchar Saathi - Chakshu

    Report suspicious calls and SMS that look like fraud. Run by the Department of Telecommunications.

    Open websiteOnline, anytime

Official channels only. RISX is independent and does not receive payment for these listings.

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Scam alert: SIM Card Fraud Ring Busted in Varanasi Varanasi police busted a gang that supplied fake SIM cards to cybercriminals across India. Four suspects were arrested for defrauding individuals through counterfeit SIMs enabled by double KYC misuse. What to do: • Never share OTP, PIN, or passwords with anyone. • Do not click unknown links or install apps a stranger asks you to. • If you think you’ve been targeted, call 1930 within 24 hours. More details and how to protect yourself: https://fraudrisk.net/alerts/691a2629e8356303722d3164

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This alert summarises a publicly reported incident — it is not a verdict. If something here is wrong, outdated, or unfair, report an error or request removal. See our Grievance Redressal process.
Methodology & sourcesWhere alerts come from, how we verify sources, and what we do not claim.Read