Police in Noida have arrested six men accused of running a fake office under the name International Police & Crime Investigation Bureau. The group allegedly impersonated government officials, used forged documents, and extorted money from the public.

How the Gang Operated

Investigators said the suspects set up the bogus office in Noida’s Phase 3 area. They pretended to be members of an international investigative agency, using fake ID cards, forged documents, and police-style insignia to appear genuine.

The group also launched a website — www.intlpcrib.in — to collect “donations” from people. They displayed national and international certificates online to make the organisation look authentic.

Swift Action by Police

The office was recently established and was shut down before the scam could grow further. Police recovered fake identity cards, official-looking documents, passbooks, and chequebooks from the premises.

DCP Shakti Mohan Avasthy said the accused “claimed to be part of an international-level investigation agency” and contacted people under the pretext of verification or inquiries. He added, “Initial investigation has revealed they possessed counterfeit stamps, letterheads, and replicas of various government emblems.”

The six arrested men — Vibhash, Aragya, Babul, Pintupal, Sampamdal, and Ashish — are all residents of West Bengal.

Links to Previous Fake Embassy Case

Police noted similarities to a recent case in Ghaziabad, where a man ran a fake diplomatic mission. A few weeks earlier, Ghaziabad police arrested 47-year-old Harshvardhan Jain for allegedly operating a fake embassy from a rented house in Kavi Nagar.

Officials said Jain had forged documents, foreign currency, and materials suspected to be part of a hawala racket.

False Diplomatic Claims

According to UP Police Additional Director General (Law & Order) Amitabh Yash, Jain posed as the ambassador of Westarctica — a self-declared micronation in Antarctica not recognised by India, the United Nations, or any country.

Investigators revealed he also claimed to represent other micronations, including the Principality of Seborga in Italy, Ladonia in Sweden, and a fictitious country called Poulvia. Such micronations are symbolic and lack legal diplomatic status.

Past Associations Under Probe

Police sources said Jain’s supposed diplomatic connections go back years. In 2012, he was reportedly appointed as an “advisor” by Seborga, and in 2016, became an “honorary consul” for Westarctica. Officials are now investigating whether he used these links to mislead people and carry out illegal financial transactions.