Cyber Fraud in Raipur: Three Residents Duped of ₹8 Lakh in Separate Incidents

Raipur cyber fraud cases continue to rise as miscreants target residents through sophisticated phishing, mobile hacking, and fake insurance updates.

Raipur: In a series of alarming incidents, cyber criminals have swindled approximately ₹8 lakh from three separate individuals in the capital city. Using a mix of predatory loan traps, credit card fraud, and fake consumer court threats, the perpetrators managed to siphon off money before the victims could realize they were being scammed. Local police have registered separate FIRs, and specialized teams are currently tracking the digital footprints of the fraudsters.

The Loan App Blackmail Trap

The most severe case was reported from the Tikrapara area, involving a private sector employee, Vishal Gupta. On March 10, 2026, Gupta had applied for a modest online loan of ₹10,000. Instead of processing a legitimate loan, the suspects informed him that a higher amount—₹40,000—had been approved.

Under the guise of the application process, the fraudsters gained remote access to Gupta’s mobile device. They allegedly accessed his personal gallery, morphed his private photos into obscene content, and then used this to extort money. Sources indicate that the victim was coerced into transferring nearly ₹6 lakh under the constant threat of having his reputation destroyed on social media.

Army Personnel Targeted

In a separate incident under the Saraswati Nagar police station limits, a serving Army Subedar, Harishchandra Singh, fell prey to a phishing scam. On April 17, he received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a representative from Axis Bank.

The caller offered to help him redeem accumulated reward points on his credit card. The perpetrator guided the Subedar to a fraudulent website and requested his card credentials. Shortly after entering the details, Singh received alerts of unauthorized transactions totaling ₹1,99,996. Realizing the deception, he promptly contacted the bank’s customer care and registered a complaint via the 1930 national cybercrime helpline.

Fake Insurance Claims

The third case involves a fruit trader, Jaykumar Wadhwani, a resident of Amlidih, who was targeted through a convoluted insurance scheme. The suspects contacted Wadhwani, claiming his ICICI Prudential life insurance policy was facing losses and required urgent intervention.

The callers created a false sense of panic by mentioning fictitious legal actions in a "Consumer Court." They then sent a malicious link under the pretext of providing a "freezing code" to secure his policy. Once Wadhwani clicked the link, the suspects gained access to his banking information and withdrew ₹55,000 from his account.

Police Urge Public Caution

Raipur police officials have reiterated their warning regarding unsolicited calls and suspicious links. Investigators noted that these gangs often operate from outside the state, making recovery difficult.

"People must remain vigilant against 'urgent' calls regarding bank details or insurance updates. Never click on unverified links or share OTPs," said an officer familiar with the ongoing investigations. As of now, authorities are analyzing the bank accounts where the stolen funds were transferred, hoping to trace the perpetrators behind this wave of Raipur cyber fraud.

Raipur Police have arrested three accused, including a history-sheeter and two juveniles, for allegedly robbing a D-Pharma student and his friend at knifepoint in the Saraswati Nagar area of the city. The accused were held within hours of the crime after police tracked them using CCTV footage and local intelligence, according to officials.

The incident took place late on April 25 and triggered a swift police response after the victims reported being attacked and robbed near Kukurbeda Gurudwara on Ring Road.

Students Targeted On Road

Police identified the victims as Sujal Lader, a D-Pharma student living in Shivanand Nagar, and his friend Vaibhav Yadav. The two were returning home on a scooter from Changorabhatha when they were stopped by three youths at around 2.40 am.

According to the complaint filed at Saraswati Nagar police station, the victims had paused near Kukurbeda Gurudwara to check directions on a mobile map when the accused intercepted them and forced them to stop.

Knife Attack During Loot

Investigators said the accused threatened the two with a knife before assaulting them. During the attack, one of the accused allegedly stabbed Vaibhav Yadav in the left thigh, while another snatched a silver chain worth around Rs 2,500 from Sujal Lader.

The accused also took away an Aadhaar card and other belongings before fleeing the spot. Police said the victims later told investigators that the attackers appeared to know each other well and were calling out names including “Chiku”, “Bholu” and “Akash” during the robbery.

CCTV Trail Leads Police

Based on the complaint, police registered a case under Crime No. 88/26 under Section 309(6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Arms Act.

Acting on instructions from DCP West Sandeep Patel, a police team scanned CCTV footage from the surrounding area and began tracing the movement of the suspects. During the investigation, one of the accused was identified as Akash Nayak alias JD, a known history-sheeter from the Saraswati Nagar police station limits.

History-Sheeter Among Accused

Police detained Akash Nayak and questioned him in custody. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to carrying out the robbery along with two juvenile accomplices, officials said.

All three accused were subsequently taken into custody. Police recovered the looted silver chain, the Aadhaar card and a button-operated knife believed to have been used in the attack.

Officials said Akash Nayak has a criminal record and is already named in at least half a dozen previous cases.

Police Tighten Vigil

Police said the quick arrests were made possible through prompt reporting by the victims and rapid technical surveillance. Officers involved in the case said CCTV footage played a critical role in identifying the suspects and reconstructing the sequence of events.

The case has again drawn attention to late-night street crime in Raipur, particularly on isolated stretches of urban roads. Such incidents remain a public interest story as city police face growing pressure to improve patrol visibility and response time in vulnerable pockets.

Probe Continues Further

Police have produced the adult accused in court and initiated due legal procedure in the case involving the two juveniles. Investigators are also examining whether the accused were linked to similar late-night robberies in the area.

According to officials, further verification of the accused’s criminal background is underway and additional charges may be added based on forensic and case evidence.