Surat cyber fraud network using tap-and-pay to steal funds busted, kingpin hiding in Thailand
In a significant breakthrough, the Anandnagar Police have arrested four individuals in connection with a sophisticated cyber fraud operation that used Point of Sale (POS) machines and a fraudulent mobile application to siphon money from unsuspecting citizens' debit and credit cards. The prime accused, Kaushal Dineshbhai Thakkar, believed to be the mastermind, remains at large and is reportedly residing in Thailand.The case, registered under Anandnagar Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and IT Act, has revealed a meticulously planned modus operandi involving multiple accomplices.Arrested accused:1. Geetankumar Pravinbhai Rupareliya (Leva Patel), resident of Mota Vasna, Surat; native of Amreli district.2. Milan Unilal Viseja (Patel), resident of Kamrej, Surat, and is a native of Rajkot district.3. Falgunbhai Mukeshbhai Gajera (Patel), from Bansi Park, Rajkot; native of Junagadh district.4. Jaydeepbhai Arvindbhai Maru, resident of Rajkot; native of Junagadh district.The prime accused has been identified as Kaushal Dineshbhai Thakkar, is still absconding and is a resident of Surat, currently in Thailand. Other names have emerged during the investigation.Modus operandi of the cyber fraud:Kaushal Thakkar, along with the arrested accused and previously arrested associates, acquired POS machines in the names of Falgun Gajera and Jaydeep Maru. Acting on instructions from Kaushal Thakkar, Milan Viseja, and Chintan Rupareliya downloaded a fraudulent mobile application and QR code, reportedly sourced via Telegram. This application captured the details of victims’ debit and credit cards.The accused enabled Near Field Communication (NFC) on their mobile phones and activated the POS machines. They then entered an amount below Rs. 5,000—a threshold that typically bypasses additional authentication such as OTP verification. By using the Tap and Pay feature, the stolen card data was transmitted to the POS machines, enabling the fraudulent withdrawal of funds. The amounts siphoned off were credited to bank accounts linked to Falgun Gajera and Jaydeep Maru, who would then forward the funds to Chintan Rupareliya via bank transfers and Angadia, retaining a commission.No prior criminal records:Preliminary checks on the Gujarat Police’s e-Gujkop database have revealed that the arrested accused had no previous criminal records. Investigators believe this was a well-organised, first-time operation for most of the accused, carefully orchestrated to avoid detection.Ongoing investigation:The police are now intensifying efforts to trace the prime accused, Kaushal Thakkar, and to identify other potential accomplices who may have been part of this growing network of digital financial fraud.The arrests underscore the evolving nature of cybercrime in India, with criminals exploiting technology and vulnerabilities in financial transactions to target unsuspecting citizens.Further investigations are underway to identify victims and quantify the total financial loss. The Anandnagar Police have assured citizens that robust action will be taken against all involved in the scam.
In a significant breakthrough, the Anandnagar Police have arrested four individuals in connection with a sophisticated cyber fraud operation that used Point of Sale (POS) machines and a fraudulent mobile application to siphon money from unsuspecting citizens' debit and credit cards. The prime accused, Kaushal Dineshbhai Thakkar, believed to be the mastermind, remains at large and is reportedly residing in Thailand.
The case, registered under Anandnagar Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and IT Act, has revealed a meticulously planned modus operandi involving multiple accomplices.
Arrested accused:
1. Geetankumar Pravinbhai Rupareliya (Leva Patel), resident of Mota Vasna, Surat; native of Amreli district.
2. Milan Unilal Viseja (Patel), resident of Kamrej, Surat, and is a native of Rajkot district.
3. Falgunbhai Mukeshbhai Gajera (Patel), from Bansi Park, Rajkot; native of Junagadh district.
4. Jaydeepbhai Arvindbhai Maru, resident of Rajkot; native of Junagadh district.
The prime accused has been identified as Kaushal Dineshbhai Thakkar, is still absconding and is a resident of Surat, currently in Thailand. Other names have emerged during the investigation.
Modus operandi of the cyber fraud:
Kaushal Thakkar, along with the arrested accused and previously arrested associates, acquired POS machines in the names of Falgun Gajera and Jaydeep Maru. Acting on instructions from Kaushal Thakkar, Milan Viseja, and Chintan Rupareliya downloaded a fraudulent mobile application and QR code, reportedly sourced via Telegram. This application captured the details of victims’ debit and credit cards.
The accused enabled Near Field Communication (NFC) on their mobile phones and activated the POS machines. They then entered an amount below Rs. 5,000—a threshold that typically bypasses additional authentication such as OTP verification. By using the Tap and Pay feature, the stolen card data was transmitted to the POS machines, enabling the fraudulent withdrawal of funds. The amounts siphoned off were credited to bank accounts linked to Falgun Gajera and Jaydeep Maru, who would then forward the funds to Chintan Rupareliya via bank transfers and Angadia, retaining a commission.
No prior criminal records:
Preliminary checks on the Gujarat Police’s e-Gujkop database have revealed that the arrested accused had no previous criminal records. Investigators believe this was a well-organised, first-time operation for most of the accused, carefully orchestrated to avoid detection.
Ongoing investigation:
The police are now intensifying efforts to trace the prime accused, Kaushal Thakkar, and to identify other potential accomplices who may have been part of this growing network of digital financial fraud.
The arrests underscore the evolving nature of cybercrime in India, with criminals exploiting technology and vulnerabilities in financial transactions to target unsuspecting citizens.
Further investigations are underway to identify victims and quantify the total financial loss. The Anandnagar Police have assured citizens that robust action will be taken against all involved in the scam.
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