VARANASI, June 2 -- A joint team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) and Cantt Police arrested 13 people from Takatakpur in Varanasi for allegedly operating a gang that defrauded people by luring them into fake investment schemes linked to IPL gaming, police officials said.

Police also recovered 17 mobile phones, 10 laptops, and a digital cryptocurrency wallet from their possession. A case has been filed against the arrested individuals at Cantt Police Station, and they have since been remanded to judicial custody and sent to jail.

The accused allegedly used fake advertisements featuring popular YouTubers and social media influencers to attract potential victims and persuade them to invest in the fraudulent scheme.

The accused were i...