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Lucknow: The cyber crime branch of Lucknow police arrested a 21-year-old BTech student in connection with a ₹46-lakh cyber fraud in which a woman was allegedly duped on the pretext of securing admission for her daughter to the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani. The case was registered at the cyber crime police station on Aug 20 on a complaint by Kiran Chaubey, a resident of IIM Road, Lucknow. The complainant was subsequently cheated of a total of ₹46 lakh through online transfers and cash payments, police said. Police recovered ₹40,225 in cash, an Apple MacBook Pro laptop, three mobile phones, five debit/ATM cards and two SIM cards from his possession.
Police said technical evidence, electronic surveillance and other inputs helped trace him. Cyber fraudsters approached her through fake education consultancy accounts operated on Facebook and Instagram and promised to secure her daughter’s admission to BITS Pilani, according to the complaint. The accused, identified as Yashraj Bajpai, son of Rudra Narayan Bajpai, was arrested when he was preparing to leave Lucknow by flight from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. The electronic devices and documents are being examined to identify other victims and possible accomplices.
Fraudulent Education Consultancy Scheme Uncovered
Authorities are investigating a case where the accused allegedly impersonated representatives and senior officials from various education consultancies. They gained the trust of a family and collected money through multiple bank accounts under false pretenses, including admission fees and registration charges. Additionally, they accepted cash payments with the promise of securing educational placements.
To lend credibility to their scheme, the suspects provided counterfeit admission letters, fee receipts, and other forged documents. They maintained communication with the victims using different mobile numbers and fake identities, further complicating the investigation.