Major Cybercrime Syndicate Busted in Delhi
The Delhi Police has successfully dismantled a sophisticated multi-layered cybercrime network that allegedly defrauded victims of crores of rupees through fake investment schemes on Facebook. The operation led to the arrest of four individuals who played crucial roles in facilitating money laundering for a Dubai-based handler.
The Elaborate Fraud Operation
According to police officials, the criminal group targeted users on Facebook by posing as investment consultants representing a non-banking financial company (NBFC) called CBCX Global Traders based in Mumbai. The fraudsters convinced victims to invest in what they claimed were high-return trading opportunities.
The investigation was triggered after a woman from Delhi was cheated of nearly ₹6 crore over a two-month period. She was persuaded to transfer funds to what appeared to be legitimate investment accounts, only to discover the entire operation was fraudulent.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam revealed that the accused used a network of 33 bank accounts to funnel the illicit funds. The money was systematically moved through multiple layers of transactions to obscure its origin and destination.
The Arrested Accused and Their Roles
The police have identified the four arrested individuals as Anas Ansari, Mohd. Kaif, Akib, and Md. Danish. Each played a specific role in the elaborate money laundering operation:
Md. Danish was the key coordinator who arranged mule bank accounts for the Dubai-based handler and managed withdrawals and distribution of illegal funds to senior syndicate members.
Anas Ansari provided his bank accounts to Danish and conducted cash withdrawals from these accounts as part of the money laundering process.
Mohd. Kaif supplied multiple bank accounts that were used to receive stolen funds and delivered cash to handlers on a commission basis.
Akib offered his bank accounts for use in fraudulent operations, sharing OTPs and account access with handlers in exchange for a share of the proceeds.
Widespread Impact and Investigation
The cybercrime syndicate has been linked to 10 different cybercrime complaints across India, with approximately ₹1.1 crore traced in connected complaints registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
DCP Gautam explained that the accused operated on a commission basis, providing mule bank accounts and conducting cash withdrawals before delivering the money to their handlers. The complex web of transactions made it challenging to trace the original source of the funds.
The police investigation continues as authorities work to identify other members of the syndicate and recover additional stolen funds. This case highlights the growing sophistication of cybercrime operations targeting Indian social media users through fake investment schemes.
