Key Facts
In a major crackdown, law enforcement agencies have busted two separate fraud networks targeting medical aspirants. The Cyber Crime Branch of the Ahmedabad City Police uncovered a Telegram scam falsely promising leaked NEET-UG 2026 re-exam papers, and in a separate case, a 19-year-old from Bihar allegedly hacked hundreds of student accounts to steal their NEET-UG refunds.
Details of the Telegram Scam
Police arrested two key suspects in Rajasthan — Sumer Singh from Jaipur and Akash Meena from Kota — for running a cyber fraud network. The accused created a network of Telegram channels, including one named “Raghav_Singh_NEET” and seven others, which they later handed over to an anonymous Telegram user operating under the alias “Private Mafia”. Using these channels, they circulated deceptive posts claiming possession of confidential NEET re-exam question papers. To appear legitimate, they used third-party apps to artificially inflate subscriber counts, boosting premium memberships to lure parents and students.
Investigation revealed that no exam material was ever recovered from the accused. It was a fabricated scheme to induce online payments via QR codes and direct bank transfers. Digital forensics and IP tracking exposed a complex financial web. Over the last month, the suspects contacted approximately 1,000 mobile numbers and Telegram channels, executing transactions worth ₹1.5 crore.
Money Laundering and Legal Action
To conceal the illicit origin of funds, the scammers also ran investment fraud operations promising high returns. They routed extorted money through bank accounts linked to online gaming websites, layered funds across multiple accounts, and ultimately withdrew cash through associates. So far, 12 complaints across different states have been linked to six primary bank accounts used by the accused. They have been booked under Sections 318(4) (cheating), 319(2) (cheating by personation), and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, alongside Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.
Second Case: Account Hacking for Refund Theft
In another case, authorities tracked a 19-year-old suspect, Navin Kumar, to Bihar for executing a massive digital heist targeting individual student accounts. Kumar targeted the official NEET-UG 2026 portal accounts of 350 candidates. Out of these, 150 had set weak, simple passwords. He stole NEET exam application numbers and passwords to gain unauthorised access, identified students eligible for refunds, and altered their profile settings to replace bank details with his own to intercept refund amounts.
What Students Should Know
- Do not trust Telegram channels or social media ads claiming to provide advance question papers, change exam results, or guarantee admissions.
- Use strong, complex passwords for competitive exam portals to prevent unauthorised access.
- Avoid financial transactions based on unverified online messages.
- Report suspicious activity immediately to the National Cyber Helpline Number (1930) or via the official cybercrime portal.
NTA Update on Admit Cards
Meanwhile, around four lakh candidates have downloaded their admit cards for the NEET-UG re-exam scheduled on June 21, 2026. The National Testing Agency stated, “We are aware that some of you are facing technical glitches or server issues in accessing your admit cards. Our teams have been working towards resolving these issues.”
FAQ
How did the scammers lure students in the NEET re-exam fraud?
They created Telegram channels claiming to have leaked question papers, used fake subscriber counts to appear legitimate, and asked for payments via QR codes or bank transfers.
What should students do to avoid such scams?
Use strong passwords for exam portals, do not trust social media claims of leaked papers or guaranteed admissions, and report suspicious activity to the National Cyber Helpline (1930) or cybercrime portal.
How many candidates were affected by the account hacking case?
A 19-year-old from Bihar hacked 350 NEET-UG 2026 candidate accounts, of which 150 had weak passwords. He redirected refunds to his own bank accounts.
Source: www.thehindu.com