Data of 54,000 Families Exposed: Major Scholarship Cyber Fraud Racket Busted

New Delhi: The East District Police have busted a cyber-fraud gang that targeted students aspiring for higher education—and their families—by luring them with the promise of scholarships. Two individuals, Sachin Sharma (29) and Sumit, have been arrested in connection with this network, which allegedly targeted Tamil-speaking families in Tamil Nadu. A Samsung S-26 mobile phone was recovered from the accused; an examination of the device revealed Excel files containing the contact details of approximately 54,000 individuals. Notably, the complainant’s phone number was also found on this extensive list. The police are now working to uncover the full extent of the network.

A fraud empire exposed by a transaction of ₹17,989

Rajiv Kumar Rawal, DCP of the East District, stated that the case came to light following a complaint filed by Muthu Kumar, a resident of Tamil Nadu. The complainant alleged that he was promised a scholarship for higher education, and on September 1, 2026, he was induced to deposit ₹17,989 online. The victim subsequently registered a complaint on the National Cyber ​​Crime Portal. An investigation into the bank accounts revealed that the defrauded funds were transferred to an account with the Bank of India, from which the cash was later withdrawn via an ATM in East Delhi. Following this, an FIR (No. 79/2026) was registered at the East Cyber ​​Police Station, and an investigation was initiated under Sections 112(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Sister’s bank account used to route the proceeds of the fraud

During the investigation, bank records and CCTV footage from the ATM revealed that the account was held in the name of Shivani Sharma. The individual seen withdrawing cash in the footage was identified as her brother, Sachin Sharma. According to the police, Sachin had provided his sister’s ATM card and UPI credentials to Sumit in exchange for a commission. Sachin was arrested on October 17. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to withdrawing ₹10,000 in cash, transferring ₹8,000 via UPI, and receiving a commission of ₹3,000 for his involvement. Following his disclosures, Sumit was arrested on October 21.

A vast network behind 54,000 phone numbers

An examination of his mobile phone revealed Excel files sent via WhatsApp. According to the police, Sumit disclosed that these files were sent on August 6 by a woman he knew. The woman allegedly targeted Tamil-speaking families whose children were preparing to transition from school to higher education. The network was also involved in tasks such as compiling contact lists for the woman’s associates and providing bank accounts to facilitate the receipt of funds obtained through fraud.

Police action and further investigation

This operation was conducted under the leadership of Station House Officer (SHO) Pawan Yadav and the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations, East) Mahavir Prasad. A team comprising Sub-Inspector Azad Singh Malik, Head Constables Anuj and Kuldeep, and Constables Laxman and Shyam Sundar tracked down the accused by analyzing bank transactions, CCTV footage, and digital evidence.

A search for the woman and her accomplices is currently underway. The police are identifying potential victims by examining messages, transactions, and contacts found on the mobile device. The East District Police have urged the public not to make payments to unknown individuals in the name of scholarships and to refrain from sharing banking information. In the event of falling victim to cyber fraud, individuals should immediately call 1930 or file a complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in.