Joint operation uncovers large-scale identity, banking and GST fraud in Aligarh
A coordinated action by Bannadevi police, the Criminal Intelligence Wing and the Cyber Cell has resulted in the arrest of seven alleged operatives of a syndicate that used the identity documents of unemployed youths to establish fake bank accounts and 21 GST-registered firms, police said on Wednesday. Authorities recovered electronic devices, bank instruments and other material during searches in the Numaish Ground area of Aligarh.
Police said the accused targeted job-seekers across the region under the pretext of conducting pre-employment background checks and recruitment documentation. Victims were reportedly persuaded to hand over their Aadhaar and PAN cards, photographs and rental agreements. Rather than processing legitimate applications, the gang is alleged to have used those documents to open bank accounts and thereby facilitate money laundering linked to online scams.
Investigators reported that the syndicate opened 97 current and savings accounts across multiple commercial banks using the stolen identities. Once accounts were activated, the accused allegedly seized debit cards, cheque books and net-banking credentials, denying the genuine account holders control over their accounts. Banking records examined by the probe team indicate transactions totalling about ₹15 crore through these accounts in the past two months.
- 97 bank accounts opened using stolen identity documents
- 21 fraudulent GST firms registered
- Approximately ₹15 crore transacted in two months, with ₹1.75 crore flagged as suspicious active balances
Police said 67 of the accounts have direct links to active national cybercrime complaints. During searches, officers recovered a laptop, a desktop CPU, 14 mobile phones, 15 ATM cards, seven cheque books, and two vehicles. Further examination of the seized material is underway, according to the official statement.
“The modus operandi involved creating a facade of legitimate commercial activity by generating fictitious invoices through the registered GST firms, enabling layering of illicit funds sourced from online financial frauds,” police said.
Local impact and next steps in the investigation
Authorities emphasised that the fraud exploited the vulnerability of unemployed individuals seeking work, converting routine recruitment formalities into instruments for large-scale identity theft and money-laundering. Investigators said they have already frozen nearly ₹1.75 crore in suspicious active balances while tracing the flow of funds to identify final beneficiaries.
Police have not released the names of the arrested persons or details identifying victims, citing the ongoing nature of the probe. Officials said forensic analysis of the seized digital devices will be used to map the network of transactions and determine whether other regions are implicated.
The case highlights persistent risks for residents who provide sensitive documents during informal recruitment processes, and serves as a reminder to verify the credentials of prospective employers and recruitment intermediaries. Law enforcement agencies cautioned job-seekers to avoid handing over original documents and to insist on secure channels for submission.
| Item | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Bank accounts opened | 97 |
| GST firms registered | 21 |
| Amount transacted | ₹15 crore |
| Suspicious active balance flagged | ₹1.75 crore |
Investigators said further arrests and recoveries cannot be ruled out as the probe expands. The seized material will be forensically examined to trace the layering of funds and to link the accounts and GST entities to reported cybercrime cases elsewhere, police added.
The joint operation in Aligarh is part of a broader effort by local and specialised units to clamp down on organised financial cybercrime and tax-fraud rings that exploit digital banking and the GST registration process, officials said.
