Major Cyber Fraud Crackdown: 27 Arrested Across 10 Indian States
In a significant nationwide operation, police have apprehended 27 individuals suspected of involvement in extensive cyber fraud syndicates. The weeklong crackdown spanned 10 states, targeting networks engaged in a variety of scams, including investment frauds, APK file deceptions, social media impersonation, credit card scams, task-based earning schemes, and visa-related cheating.
Widespread Raids and Financial Scrutiny
The arrests were executed by the Cyber West police station, with coordinated raids conducted in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal. According to DCP (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar, this action is connected to 10 major cyber fraud cases, where victims were allegedly cheated of more than Rs 1.5 crore.
Police investigations revealed that approximately 150 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) were linked to the bank accounts and mobile numbers utilized by the accused. Financial scrutiny of these accounts uncovered suspicious transactions amounting to nearly Rs 14 crore, which authorities suspect are tied to fraudulent activities.
Modus Operandi of the Fraud Syndicates
The syndicates employed sophisticated tactics to lure targets. They operated fake online investment platforms that promised high returns, circulated malicious APK files disguised as legitimate banking applications, and faked identities on social media to extract money from unsuspecting individuals. Additionally, victims were drawn into task-based earning schemes and visa-related frauds.
DCP Bhaskar detailed specific cases, including a visa-related fraud amounting to Rs 15 lakh, a task-based fraud of Rs 4.7 lakh, and multiple investment frauds involving sums of Rs 12.4 lakh, Rs 33.3 lakh, Rs 19.5 lakh, and Rs 6.5 lakh. The probe also encompassed instances of APK-based impersonation of bank officials, as well as credit card and social media impersonation.
Profile of the Accused and Seized Evidence
The arrested individuals, aged between 20 and 42 years, hail from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal. The network was inter-state in nature, with different members assigned roles such as handling bank accounts, SIM cards, digital transactions, and cash withdrawals.
During the operation, police seized substantial evidence, including 25 mobile phones, 28 SIM cards, 20 banking cards, one point-of-sale (POS) machine, a motorcycle, and various bank documents and account kits suspected to have been used in the fraudulent activities. This crackdown highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat cybercrime and protect citizens from financial exploitation.
