Cyber Extortion Bid from Thailand: LSE Graduate among 3 Arrested in Delhi
Three men, one of them a London School of Economics (LSE) postgraduate, were arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly operating a cross-border cyber extortion racket. The accused allegedly tried to extort a Delhi businessman by demanding cryptocurrency through a WhatsApp call made from Thailand, threatening to kill his children if he refused. The Cyber Extortion Plot The matter came to the police’s attention when a businessman complained to the DBG Road station. According to him, a WhatsApp call from Thailand threatened him, with the caller claiming to be a gangster and asking for ₹2 crore in crypto via a QR code. The caller warned that if the demand was ignored, his children would be shot dead. Alarmed by the threat, the businessman approached the police, who quickly registered a case of extortion and handed it over to the Cyber Crime Unit. How Delhi Police Tracked the Accused The police cyber investigation team used advanced tools to trace the WhatsApp call and crypto QR code, confirming that the operation was being conducted from Thailand. Meanwhile, surveillance teams kept watch on the suspects’ movements in Delhi. When the trio returned from Thailand, police immediately arrested them. Two mobile phones, one used to generate the crypto QR code and another used to make WhatsApp calls, were recovered during the operation. Who Were the Accused? The three arrested men were identified as: Nitish (31) – A postgraduate from the London School of Economics (LSE), believed to be the digital mastermind. Sumit (42) – A BCom graduate and jewellery trader, who personally knew the victim and chose him as the target. Prince (35) – A school dropout who helped place the threatening calls. All three are residents of Delhi. Debt Led to Cybercrime The suspects acknowledged during interrogation that they had been under severe financial pressure. Believing cyber extortion to be an “easy way out,” they flew to Thailand to avoid detection, purchased international SIM cards, and carried out the plan from abroad. Police Statement Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central District) Nidhin Valsan praised the cyber team’s efforts, saying: “The suspects assumed they could escape by operating from Thailand. But Delhi Police’s cyber cell tracked their digital footprints and arrested them. This case proves that no cybercriminal is beyond the reach of law.” Conclusion This incident highlights the rising trend of cyber extortion cases in India, where criminals are increasingly using cryptocurrency and international SIM cards to hide their tracks. However, the swift action by Delhi Police shows that advanced cyber tools and global cooperation can effectively combat such threats.