Deoghar Cyber Police Arrest 9 for Fake Customer-Care and Malicious APK Fraud; IMEIs Linked to Complaints in Several States
Deoghar Cyber Police in Jharkhand have arrested nine people accused of posing as customer care for Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, Flipkart, Amazon Pay and Airtel Payments Bank, and of sending victims malicious APK files disguised as PM-Kisan, electricity-bill and RTO e-challan apps. Police seized 12 phones and 12 SIM cards whose numbers and IMEIs are linked to fraud complaints in several states.
Deoghar Cyber Police in Jharkhand have arrested nine people accused of running a fake customer-care and malicious app fraud operation from the Sarath area. Police say the numbers and handsets they seized are linked to complaints in several states.
A special team led by Cyber DSP Kailash Prasad Mahto, acting on the orders of Superintendent of Police Praveen Pushkar, carried out the raids on 17 October 2026 on a tip-off. Police seized 12 mobile phones and 12 SIM cards.
Modus Operandi
According to police, the accused:
- Posted fake helpline numbers on Google, posing as customer care for Flipkart and Amazon Pay
- Posed as customer care or officials of Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm and Airtel Payments Bank, luring users with fake cashback offers
- Sent APK files disguised as PM-Kisan, electricity-bill and RTO e-challan apps to take control of victims' phones
- Told Airtel Payments Bank users their card had been blocked through the Airtel Thanks app and offered to "reactivate" it
A technical check of the seized phone numbers and IMEIs found cyber fraud complaints already registered against them in several states.
The Accused
All nine have been arrested. Police registered an FIR at Deoghar Cyber Police Station, produced them in court, and they have been sent to judicial custody. According to police, the accused are:
1. Bahauddin Ansari, 41, son of Ikram Miyan, Sarath police station area 2. Parvez Ansari, 30, son of Gulzar Ansari, Pathrdda OP, Deoghar 3. Sahaduddin Ansari, 31, son of Mushtaq Ansari, Karmatand police station area, Jamtara 4. Chandan Das, 21, Pathrdda OP, Sarath 5. Nandan Kumar Das, 23, son of Ajit Das, Pathrdda OP, Sarath 6. Vikram Kumar Das, 19, son of Manoj Das, Pathrdda OP, Sarath 7. Kanhaiya Kumar Das, 26, son of Kas Das, Pathraul police station area 8. Ranjan Kumar Das, 26, son of Deendayal Das, Pathraul police station area 9. Pankaj Das, 28, son of Ketukuli Mahra, Pathraul police station area, Deoghar
Chandan and Nandan are brothers. Two of the accused have been jailed before in Deoghar Cyber Police cases: Kanhaiya Kumar Das in Case No. 56/25 and Nandan Kumar Das in Case No. 83/23. Ages are approximate, as given by police.
The Jamtara–Deoghar Belt
One of the accused is from Jamtara. The arrests show the Jamtara–Deoghar belt is still running the customer-care and fake-APK model, now dressed up in government schemes such as PM-Kisan and RTO e-challans to look more convincing.
Stay Safe
- Never install an APK file sent over WhatsApp, SMS or a call.
- Use PM-Kisan, e-challan and bill payment services only through official websites and apps.
- Don't trust helpline numbers found in search results. Get them from the company's official app or website.
- Never share an OTP, PIN or banking password.
- Report fraud on 1930 or at cybercrime.gov.in.