In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, Hazaribag police successfully dismantled a sophisticated cyber fraud and sextortion network on Wednesday. The operation resulted in the arrest of four individuals accused of luring and blackmailing victims through deceptive online advertisements for escort services.
The Raid and Arrests
Acting on specific intelligence received by Hazaribag Superintendent of Police (SP) Anjani Anjan, a special raiding team was swiftly formed. The team operated under the direct supervision of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Amit Anand. In a coordinated move, the police apprehended the four accused from the Mufassil police station area.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Vivek Kumar (22)
- Badal Mandal (20)
- Deepak Mandal (24)
- Shekhar Kumar (21)
All four are residents of Hazaribag district.
Modus Operandi of the Cyber Criminals
According to police officials, the gang operated by creating and promoting fake escort service websites and advertisements on the internet. Their primary goal was to attract potential victims looking for such services.
Once a victim made contact, the accused would initiate video calls. They would then record or obtain compromising content during these interactions. Subsequently, the criminals used this objectionable material to blackmail and threaten their victims, coercing them into paying large sums of money.
The extorted payments were primarily transferred via UPI and other digital payment platforms, making the transactions quick and difficult to trace initially. The accused used multiple mobile numbers and digital identities to avoid detection.
Evidence Seized and Ongoing Investigation
During the raid, police confiscated a substantial amount of digital evidence, which directly linked the accused to the crimes. The seized items include:
- 12 mobile phones from various brands (one was found damaged)
- 16 SIM cards
- 12 debit cards issued by different banks
- 5 PAN cards
Investigators confirmed that this equipment was instrumental in executing the cyber fraud and sextortion schemes. SP Anjani Anjan stated that a further investigation is actively underway. The police are working to determine the full scale of the criminal operation, identify more victims who may not have come forward, and uncover any potential connections this gang might have with wider cybercrime networks in the region or beyond.
This bust highlights the increasing threat of cyber-enabled blackmail and the proactive steps being taken by law enforcement in Jharkhand to combat such digital crimes. The public is advised to exercise extreme caution when interacting with unknown entities online and to report any extortion attempts to the cyber crime cell immediately.
