Vijayapura, Karnataka, January 21, 2026 – In a major crackdown on cybercrime, the Vijayapura district police have detected five online fraud cases and successfully recovered Rs 1.32 crore, which has been promptly returned to the affected victims. The operation, led by the Cyber Crime Police Station and supported by other local stations, involved tracing the accused, freezing their bank accounts, and obtaining court orders for refunds.
The cases, spanning investment scams, matrimonial frauds, and government fund misappropriation, highlight the growing menace of digital deception in the region. Police officials emphasized their commitment to swift action, urging citizens to remain vigilant against unsolicited investment promises and fake service providers.
### Details of the Fraud Cases
1. Fake Trading App Scam (Crime No. 34/2024)
A local trader fell victim to fraudsters promoting the bogus "The Octa Trading App," which lured investors with promises of a 4% daily return on trades in dollars, gold, crude oil, and currency pairs. The victim transferred Rs 2.04 crore, which was siphoned off by the accused. Under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act, 2008, and Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), police initially recovered Rs 70 lakh and later an additional Rs 65.64 lakh, totaling Rs 1.35 crore refunded to the victim.
2. Matrimonial Crypto Investment Fraud (Crime No. 04/2025)
A Vijayapura-based doctor was duped through a divorce matrimony platform, where a scammer posed as a prospective spouse and convinced her to invest in cryptocurrency via a fraudulent website. The accused collected Rs 2.15 crore across multiple bank accounts. Following account freezes, Rs 25.11 lakh was recovered and returned to the victim.
3. Government Fund Diversion (Crime No. 85/2024)
In a case of official misconduct, Rs 75.90 lakh in government funds allocated under the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Development Corporation's land ownership scheme was misappropriated between December 2018 and January 2019. The accused, including District Manager Renuka Satarle, retired Taluk Development Officer S.S. Manigiri, and the late Mudhol MT, diverted the money through cross-cheques and RTGS transfers. Charged under Sections 409, 420, 465, 468, and 471 read with 34 of the IPC, police have frozen accounts and filed a court report seeking recovery of Rs 27.55 lakh.
4. E-Commerce Franchise Deception (Crime No. 18/2025)
A trader and nine associates lost Rs 58 lakh after being promised an e-commerce delivery franchise that never materialized. Under Sections 316 and 318(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Rs 10 lakh has been refunded so far, with an additional Rs 12 lakh frozen in the accused's accounts pending court approval for release to victims.
5. Bogus Aviation Service Scam (Crime No. 17/2025)
Another trader was cheated of Rs 4.08 lakh by imposters claiming to represent Jet Serve Aviation Private Ltd (Flyola), who offered helicopter services from Prayagraj airport to the Kumbh Mela venue, including airfare and accommodation. The service was never provided, and the money was not refunded. Police traced the funds, froze the accounts, and recovered the full amount for return to the victim.
### Additional Recoveries and Police Advisory
Beyond the financial frauds, Vijayapura police utilized the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal to trace and return 10 lost mobile phones valued at Rs 2.40 lakh to their rightful owners.
Superintendent of Police Ijwal, speaking on the successes, stated, "Our cyber team worked tirelessly to dismantle these networks, ensuring victims recover their hard-earned money. We advise the public to verify investment apps and service providers through official channels and report suspicious activities immediately via the 1930 helpline."
This series of recoveries underscores the effectiveness of coordinated police efforts in combating online fraud, with investigations ongoing to apprehend all involved parties. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and cautious in the digital age to prevent such incidents.
(Source: Deccan Chronicle)
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