In a dramatic turn of events, a man who was once a victim of a small-scale online fraud has been arrested for allegedly masterminding a multi-crore job scam. The arrest was part of 'Cyber Hawk,' a major anti-cybercrime drive conducted by the Delhi Police, which led to the detention of 381 individuals and the filing of 24 FIRs.
From Victim to Accused: The Story of Mohammad Mehtab Alam
The case took a curious turn with the arrest of Mohammad Mehtab Alam, aged 36. Back in 2018, Alam had reported to the police that he was cheated out of ₹999. However, his complaint was allegedly not pursued seriously as the monetary loss was considered too minor. According to police officials, this experience seemingly paved the way for his descent into crime. They stated that Alam admitted to starting his own fraudulent activities in 2019, operating a call-centre-like bogus job racket that preyed on hundreds of job seekers.
Unraveling the Multi-Crore Job Racket
The scam came to light after a resident of Shaheen Bagh filed a complaint about being cheated of ₹13,500 on the false promise of securing employment. Subsequent investigations revealed a vast network. DCP (South-East) Dr. Hemant Tiwari reported, "They scammed people by promising jobs. So far, we have traced about 300 victims and identified transactions totalling roughly ₹3 crore, with the amount likely to increase." The police have also seized substantial evidence, including 16 bank accounts, 23 debit cards, a hard disk, 18 laptops, and 20 mobile phones linked to this racket.
Operation Cyber Hawk: A Wide-Reaching Crackdown
Operation Cyber Hawk, a 48-hour intensive drive that concluded at 9 am on November 21, was one of the largest of its kind for the Delhi Police. The operation resulted in 95 suspects being formally charged for involvement in organised cyber fraud. The seizures from the operation were massive, underscoring the scale of cybercrime in the region. Police recovered 1,843 mobile phones, three laptops, 84 ATM cards, fake insurance papers, forged company stamps, and ₹10.28 lakh in cash.
In a significant action, authorities busted an unlicensed call centre in West Patel Nagar that was duping people under the guise of vehicle insurance policy renewal. One accused, Khemchand (33), was arrested, and laptops, mobile phones, fake policy letters, rubber stamps, and ₹10 lakh in cash were seized.
Furthermore, police dismantled an illegal mobile manufacturing and IMEI-tampering unit that was used to facilitate cyber fraud. Among the individual cases highlighted was the arrest of a 21-year-old man who allegedly defrauded a 73-year-old victim of ₹22.86 lakh by promising an 'exclusive' credit card for retired employees. The drive also netted individuals involved in ATM frauds, mule account operations, and impersonation cases.
The Delhi Police have sent a strong message with this operation, demonstrating their intensified focus on combating the rising tide of cybercrime and bringing perpetrators to justice, regardless of their past status as victims.
