‘You’ve failed, pay up’: Now, cyber cons in UP target board students, demand money to 'fix' results

LUCKNOW: A cyber fraud racket targeting board exam candidates came to light in Sant Kabir Nagar. The fraudsters are threatening students with failure and extorting money in the name of ensuring they pass.

Cyber Cell sources said organised gangs, primarily operating from Jharkhand, are behind the scams, targeting students across India.

Police said fraudsters pose as exam evaluators and call students who have recently appeared for board exams. They shock victims by citing accurately their names and roll numbers. The callers claim the student has failed in one or more subjects and offer to "fix" the result in exchange for money, which they extort through UPI transactions.

Officials said the scam is designed to exploit anxiety of students awaiting results. In Narayanpur village in Bakhira area, a student received a call from an unknown number. Claiming he would fail in three subjects, the caller demanded Rs 15,000 to ensure he passed. However, the student avoided falling into the trap by consulting his teacher, who identified it as a fraud attempt.

CO Sarvabadan Singh warned any demand for money in exchange for passing examinations is completely fraudulent. He urged students and parents to immediately report such calls to the police and not to panic.

Teachers in the district confirmed multiple students received similar calls.

Cyber Cell officials said similar incidents had been reported from other districts, but in many cases, students out of fear did not report the fraud, allowing the gangs to operate.