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Police Warn of Surging WhatsApp Trading and 'Digital Arrest' Scams as Delhi Busts Multi-State Laundering Ring

Investigators describe a laundering chain that routes victim money through shell firms into USDT, reaching a suspected Chinese handler.

Overview

  • Delhi Police Cyber Cell arrested a key accused on December 6 and detailed how funds flowed from mule accounts to a fake firm, were converted to USDT, and were sold to an entity referred to as Kool Pay.
  • Hyderabad’s cybercrime wing issued a public advisory on a spike in online trading frauds using polished fake apps, manipulated profit dashboards, and withdrawal blocks to extract repeated payments.
  • Fresh FIRs in Maharashtra report seniors losing ₹1.06 crore in Thane and ₹1.6 crore in Navi Mumbai after being added to unsolicited WhatsApp groups that pushed counterfeit trading platforms.
  • Police reported multiple 'digital arrest' cases, including a Pune couple coerced into paying ₹90 lakh and a Jabalpur retiree held on video calls for three days, with Nagpur officers arresting three suspects tied to a ₹1.51 crore extortion.
  • Other vectors highlighted by investigators include fake parcel links and malicious APKs, SIM-swap style tactics, and phishing, with authorities urging verification via SEBI, use of helpline 1930, and avoidance of unverified apps or groups.