# Professor, Amanda, and Abbas: Delhi's 'Money Heist' Gang Pulls Off Rs 150 Crore Cyber Spectacle
**November 6, 2025** – Forget the red jumpsuits and Dali masks of La Casa de Papel. In the gritty underbelly of Delhi's digital shadows, a trio of small-time hustlers channeled their inner Sergio Marquina to orchestrate a scam straight out of Netflix's fever dream. Meet "Professor" Arpit, "Amanda" Prabhat, and "Freddy" Abbas—the unlikely antiheroes who allegedly looted Rs 150 crore from over 300 unsuspecting Indians, all while binge-watching *Money Heist* for "inspiration." It's not a heist on the Royal Mint, but a brazen cyber raid on middle-class savings, exposed this week by Delhi Police. As India grapples with a cybercrime tsunami (up 24% in 2025 per NCRB data), this tale is a stark reminder: In the age of algorithms, the house always wins—until the cops crash the party.
What started as a whisper in Noida call centers has ballooned into a national headache, with whispers of Chinese puppet masters pulling strings from afar. Let's peel back the layers of this desi *Money Heist*, from the slick setup to the swift takedown.
## The Masterminds: A Trio with TV-Sized Ambitions
At the helm was Arpit Mishra, a 25-year-old with a law degree but a criminal itch, dubbing himself "Professor" after the show's cerebral ringleader. Flanking him: Prabhat Vajpayee, 22, a computer science whiz masquerading as "Amanda" (a nod to the series' fierce operative), and Abbas Khan, 24, the muscle alias "Freddy" (or "Berlin" in some accounts, blending characters for flair). These weren't hardened pros from the streets of Outer Delhi; they were Gen-Z opportunists, holed up in luxury hotels, laptops humming like plot devices.
Inspired by the thrill of Álvaro Morte's tactical genius, the gang didn't rob banks—they hacked trust. Over months, they targeted salaried folks, retirees, and small investors via social media, peddling "guaranteed" stock tips in exclusive WhatsApp groups. "Join our elite circle for 20% monthly returns," they'd tease, complete with fabricated success stories and deepfake endorsements.
## The Heist Unfolds: From Bait to Blackmail
Picture this: Victim logs in, sees a shiny app dashboard flashing green arrows. A modest Rs 10,000 investment "doubles" overnight—hook set. Emboldened, they pour in lakhs, only for the platform to glitch: "Account locked due to KYC issues. Pay Rs 50,000 to unlock." Refuse? Threats roll in—"We'll freeze your PAN, report you to SEBI." It's classic escalation, mirroring the show's high-stakes negotiations but with Excel sheets instead of gold bars.
The modus? A bogus "Direct Market Account" scheme, rigged with phantom trades on a cloned broker site. Funds funneled through mule accounts, laundered via crypto wallets and hawala. By the bust, they'd fleeced 300+ victims across India—Rs 150 crore from this op alone, plus a cheeky Rs 23 crore from side gigs like phishing runs. One Delhiite lost Rs 22 lakh; another, a pensioner from Lucknow, his life savings. The gang's haul? Lavish Airbnbs, iPhones, and dreams of early retirement—until the plot twisted.
## The Bust: Delhi Police's 'Bell for Dead' Moment
Enter the Delhi Police Cyber Cell, no strangers to digital wild goose chases. It all unraveled with a single FIR: Rohit, a Noida techie, reported his Rs 22 lakh vanishing act in October. Inspector Rahul Kumar's team traced IP trails from a nondescript Ghaziabad flat to a Siliguri hideout. Raids hit like a SWAT scene—Noida for Prabhat and Abbas, West Bengal for Arpit on the run.
Seized: 11 phones, 17 SIMs, 32 debit cards, passbooks, and a treasure trove of WhatsApp chats scripting the cons. "They operated like a startup," quipped DCP Joy Tirkey, "pitches, KPIs, even team-building watches of *Money Heist*." But the real bombshell? A Chinese connection—suspected ties to a Southeast Asian cyber syndicate, routing funds through WeChat-linked apps. Interpol's on notice; expect extradition drama.
The trio's in Tihar now, spilling under interrogation. Accomplices? Still at large, but the net's widening.
## Beyond the Glitz: Why This Heist Hits Home
This isn't just tabloid fodder—it's a symptom. India's cyber fraud losses topped Rs 12,000 crore in 2025, with stock scams surging 40% amid bull runs. The gang's Netflix fixation underscores a darker trend: Pop culture as crime manual, where algorithms amplify cons at warp speed. Chinese links? They echo the "Pig Butchering" ops plaguing Asia, blending romance scams with investment traps—billions siphoned yearly.
For victims, it's devastation: Suicides, bankruptcies, shattered retirements. Regulators like SEBI are scrambling—new AI monitors for trading apps incoming—but enforcement lags. As PM Modi's digital India pushes forward, these shadows grow longer.
## Fade to Black: Lessons from the Delhi Dalí
Arpit's "Professor" might've fancied himself a folk hero, but in reality, he's just another cog in the fraud machine—brilliant, broke, and behind bars. *Money Heist* glamorizes rebellion; here, it fueled ruin. The takeaway? Verify before you vibe: Cross-check brokers on NSE, shun unsolicited tips, and report fast via 1930 helpline.
Delhi's heist is over, but the series streams on. Will we binge-watch our way to better safeguards, or hit play on the next sequel? Sound off below—ever dodged a digital bandit? Stay vigilant, folks; in cyber streets, trust no one.
*Disclaimer: Based on reports as of Nov 6, 2025. Ongoing investigations may yield updates. If scammed, contact cyber police immediately.*
Inspired by the Netflix thriller Money Heist, a gang in Delhi stole Rs 150 crore through an elaborate plan. The gang members even named themselves after characters in the thriller. They also took another Rs 23 crore by duping people online.
The gang members who have been identified as Arpit, Prabhat, and Abbas have been arrested by the Delhi Police.
They duped people on social media by promising them good returns from investing in the stock market.
The police said they used the screen names partly inspired by the web series and also to hide their identities.
Arpit, a lawyer, became "Professor"; Computer Science Masters graduate Prabhat Vajpayee took the name "Amanda", and Abbas took the name "Freddy."
They created several secret groups on social media, where they lured people with the promise of high return on investments in the stock market.
How They Duped People
They created dozens of groups on social media and WhatsApp where they shared stock market advice and tips. Then they promised excellent returns if people invested through them.
They gained the trust of people by booking them small profits initially. However, the moment somebody added a large amount to invest, the account would be blocked.
