In a decisive move against sophisticated transnational cyber-enabled financial crimes, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently executed Operation CyStrike, a high-stakes international crackdown. This coordinated effort involved simultaneous raids across multiple locations in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and other regions, targeting elaborate fraud networks that exploited digital platforms to siphon funds from victims globally.
International Collaboration and Simultaneous Raids
Operation CyStrike was launched on January 30, following critical intelligence inputs from foreign agencies. The CBI worked in close collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Interpol, and law enforcement bodies from the United Kingdom, Kuwait, Ireland, and Singapore. This multi-agency approach enabled a synchronized assault on cybercrime syndicates operating across borders.
During the extensive searches, investigators conducted raids at 35 locations spanning several Indian states, including:
- Karnataka
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
- Telangana
- West Bengal
These operations targeted criminal groups that used pseudonymous online identities to deceive both domestic and international victims. A senior CBI officer revealed, "The gang was targeting both domestic and international people through sophisticated digital fraud."
Key Breakthroughs and Arrests
One of the most significant breakthroughs occurred in Delhi, where authorities dismantled a network specifically defrauding US citizens. During this raid, law enforcement seized a substantial cache of electronic evidence, including:
- Laptops
- Mobile phones
- Computer hard disks
These devices contained incriminating digital proof of large-scale financial theft. A key operative, identified as Pfokrehrii Peter, was arrested on the spot during this operation.
In addition to the electronic evidence, investigators recovered ₹60 lakh in cash and successfully froze numerous "mule accounts"—intermediary bank accounts used to launder illicit proceeds and obscure financial trails.
Uncovering a Predatory Visa and Employment Racket
Parallel to the cyber-fraud investigations, the CBI uncovered a sophisticated visa and employment scam operating across New Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Karnataka. This criminal syndicate utilized the fraudulent domain https://eservicemoi-Kw.com to impersonate official Kuwaiti government portals.
The modus operandi involved luring Indian nationals with:
- Fake Kuwaiti e-visas
- Fraudulent job appointments at leading companies
Victims were deceived into paying large sums of money for these non-existent services. During searches related to this racket, CBI officers seized forged documents, digital templates, and recovered another ₹60 lakh from one of the accused. Another key suspect, Suraj Srivastava, was also arrested in connection with this scheme.
Sophisticated Financial Layering Techniques
The cybercrime syndicates employed a high-tech funnel system that combined digital deception with rapid financial layering. Their operational strategy involved multiple stages:
Initial Contact: Operatives used spoofed domains and pseudonymous identities to pose as official entities, tricking targets into making urgent payments for fraudulent services.
Money Movement: Once funds were received, they were immediately routed through a complex web of mule accounts. These intermediary accounts shuffled money across different regions to break the audit trail and obscure the origin of illicit funds.
Cash-Out Phase: Specialized "cash-out" teams eventually converted the digital proceeds into untraceable hard currency. This decentralized approach allowed the masterminds to distance themselves from the initial crimes while maintaining operational security.
Operation CyStrike represents a significant milestone in India's fight against transnational cyber-financial crimes, demonstrating the effectiveness of international cooperation in tackling sophisticated digital fraud networks that target victims across the globe.
