The Cyber Crime Cell of CID Crime, Gandhinagar, has dismantled a sophisticated cyber fraud network that exploited the popularity of the BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) gaming app, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals and the exposure of a ₹2 crore scam. The operation targeted users across India, leveraging Instagram to lure victims with promises of discounted in-game UC coins, as reported by TOI first.
How the Scam Operated
The accused set up multiple fake Instagram profiles, advertising cheap UC coins for BGMI. To gain the trust of potential victims, they initially transferred a small number of coins. Once trust was established, the scammers escalated their tactics by falsely claiming that the victims’ gaming IDs had been reported and faced imminent bans. Victims were pressured into sending additional payments under the guise of resolving these fabricated issues, with assurances of refunds that never materialized. All transactions were conducted via QR codes shared over WhatsApp, but the promised coins were never delivered, nor were the funds returned.
Major Arrests and Seizures
A targeted raid at a house in Nidhi Bungalows Society, Palanpur (Banaskantha district), led to the arrest of:
- Shailesh Chaudhary (21, Ranesari village, Tharad taluka)
- Sendha Chaudhary (22, Kumbhardi village, Vav taluka)
- Jitendra Chaudhary (20, Sherau village, Tharad)
- Suresh Chaudhary (20, Lodnor village, Tharad)
- Rahulkumar Chaudhary (20, Patiyasra village, Tharad)
- Narsinh Chaudhary (19, Kumbhardi)
- Rahul Chaudhary (19, Savarakha village, Tharad)
During the operation, authorities seized 13 mobile phones, 14 bank passbooks, 40 cheque books, 88 debit/credit cards, and ₹1.5 lakh in cash. Technical analysis revealed that the gang operated across 21 states, with 39 complaints from 14 states linked to their bank accounts and mobile numbers on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCCRP). The accused utilized 25 bank accounts, which recorded transactions totaling ₹2.11 crore during 2024–25.
Legal Action and Charges
An FIR was registered at the State Cyber Crime Police Station, CID Crime, Gandhinagar. The suspects face charges under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to cheating by personation using digital means, as well as Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, which address identity theft and cheating by impersonation using computer resources.
This case highlights the growing threat of cyber fraud in India’s gaming community. The CID’s swift action has disrupted a major network, but authorities urge users to remain vigilant against offers that seem too good to be true and to report suspicious activity immediately to cybercrime portals.