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3 women arrested in Delhi for duping Chandigarh resident of Rs 1.73L: cops

Police identified the accused women as Pratima Sharma, Roshni and Juhi Sethi, all residents of Delhi.

3 min readChandigarhJan 10, 2026 12:22 PM IST

Three women arrested in Delhi for Rs 1.73 lakh credit card upgrade scam targeting Chandigarh resident, cyber police say (Photo for representation)

An offer on WhatsApp to upgrade a credit card turned out to be a trap for a Chandigarh resident, who was duped of Rs 1.73 lakh by cyber fraudsters posing as employees of American Express Credit Card, the Chandigarh Cyber Crime police said on Friday, adding that they had arrested three women in Delhi in connection with this case.

DSP (Cyber Crime) A Venkatesh said, “Incriminating material such as 28 mobile phones, 82 SIM cards, 55 ATM cards, two Aadhaar cards, two PAN cards, eight dongles, 27 landline phones, wireless transmitters, passbooks, cheque books, notebooks and other documents, were seized from the accused women’s possession. Several seized mobile phones contained extensive customer databases with names, addresses and mobile numbers.”

Police identified the accused women as Pratima Sharma, Roshni and Juhi Sethi, all residents of Delhi.

Police said an FIR in this connection was registered on December 26, 2025, at the Cyber Crime police station in Chandigarh.

According to police, “The complainant, a resident of Sector 45, Chandigarh, received WhatsApp messages and phone calls from an unidentified woman, claiming to be an American Express employee, and offering the victim to convert his SBI credit card into an American Express card, with an enhanced credit limit. The fraudsters convinced the victim to open a malicious link sent to him. As soon as the victim opened the link, the fraudsters gained access to his mobile phone and siphoned off Rs 1,73,463 from his SBI credit card.”

“During the investigation, technical analysis, including CAF and CDR scrutiny, IP address tracking and KYC verification disclosed that the accused were operating from Ashok Nagar and Uttam Nagar areas of Delhi,” the DSP said, adding: “Acting on the leads, police conducted a raid in Tilak Nagar, West Delhi, and arrested all three accused persons.”

Cyber Crime police station SHO Inspector Iram Rizvi said, “The accused used the extensive customer databases with names, addresses and mobile numbers to impersonate bank and credit card officials to target victims. The phones were also linked to multiple bank accounts used to route the defrauded money.”

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“During interrogation, the accused confessed to their role in the cyber fraud and disclosed the involvement of an associate. Further investigation is underway to identify more accomplices, verify bank accounts opened using forged documents and determine the total number of victims cheated by the gang,” the SHO added.

Meanwhile, the Cyber Crime police have appealed to people not to click on suspicious links received via WhatsApp, SMS, or email, and never share OTPs, CVV numbers, or banking details with anyone. Citizens have been advised to verify callers through official customer care channels before acting on any such requests, they said.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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