‘Professor’ and Team: Delhi’s Money Heist Gang Nabbed for Rs 150 Crore Fraud

In a case straight out of a thriller, the Delhi Police have uncovered a Rs 150 crore fraud inspired by Netflix's Money Heist. The gang behind the elaborate scam even adopted the show's character names while duping hundreds of people across India.

The 'Money Heist' Gang and Their Roles

The accused have been identified as Arpit, Prabhat, and Abbas, who operated under aliases inspired by the web series. Arpit, a lawyer, called himself "Professor." Prabhat Vajpayee, a Computer Science postgraduate, took the name "Amanda," while Abbas became "Freddy."

According to the police, "They used these screen names partly inspired by the web series and also to hide their identities." The trio were arrested after the cyber unit traced their activities across multiple states.

How They Duped Investors

The gang created several groups on social media and WhatsApp offering stock market advice and high-return investment schemes. They initially earned people's trust by giving small profits, but once investors added larger sums, their accounts were blocked.

Police officials said, "They created dozens of groups and promised excellent returns. Once someone deposited a big amount, the account was either frozen or they were threatened into adding more money."

Over 300 people were cheated using this strategy. The accused operated from luxury hotels using only mobile phones and laptops. During raids in Noida and Siliguri, the police recovered 11 phones, 17 SIM cards, 12 bank passbooks, 32 debit cards, and multiple screenshots of online transactions.

The Rs 23 Crore Cyber Trail

Beyond the Rs 150 crore scam, investigators also found evidence that the same gang looted another Rs 23 crore through online fraud. The transactions led police to suspect links with foreign networks, including Chinese cyber operators.

An officer revealed, "In the analysis of the call records and internet logs, we found the trail reaching Noida, Guwahati, and possibly China. A network of Chinese fraudsters might have helped them execute the operation."

Hunt for Global Links

The Delhi Police are now investigating the international network suspected to be behind the larger operation. Several leads suggest that Chinese nationals played a crucial role in managing the cyber infrastructure for the fraud.

Authorities continue to trace digital footprints and identify more members linked to the Rs 173 crore total fraud.

Police officials said they are determined to "dismantle the entire chain, including the foreign handlers, to ensure no similar operation resurfaces."