Bhubaneswar police have intensified their crackdown on an interstate cybercrime syndicate. On Monday, officers arrested three more suspects from Bihar. This follows the arrest of twelve gang members just one day earlier.
Fresh Arrests from Bihar
The three new accused all hail from Katrisarai block in Nalanda district, Bihar. Police identified them as Chandan Kumar (40), Pankaj Kumar (38), and Rishi Kumar (27). Investigators believe more arrests are likely. They suspect the gang has accomplices operating in Kolkata.
Modus Operandi of the Syndicate
The gang ran a makeshift call center from a residence in Bhubaneswar. Debasis Tripathy, arrested on Sunday, hosted this operation. Members came from Bihar and Kerala. They targeted victims in their home states, using local languages to build trust.
Unlike large-scale investment frauds, this syndicate focused on smaller amounts. They typically swindled Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 from each victim. This strategy made their crimes less noticeable to authorities.
Challenges in Investigation
Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagmohan Meena explained the difficulties. Many victims, especially in Kerala, Bihar, and Kolkata, did not file police reports. The relatively small sums involved discouraged formal complaints.
Even when complaints were lodged, local police sometimes gave them low priority. The gang further complicated matters by routing calls through Bhubaneswar while directing payments to mule accounts in Bihar.
"We will coordinate with police in Bihar and Kerala to gather more details about this network," DCP Meena stated.
Technical Breakthrough
The gang had been active since last year. Police finally got a crucial break thanks to technical inputs from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. This data helped trace the gang's activities and identify its members.
How the Scam Worked
Investigators revealed the gang's methods. They first obtained customer data from e-commerce platforms through agents. Then, they sent courier packages to potential victims.
These packages contained fake scratch cards, coupons, and gift vouchers. Each item included phone numbers linked to the accused. Recipients were prompted to call these numbers for instructions.
Victims who scratched the cards believed they had won cash prizes worth Rs 10-15 lakh. When they contacted the provided numbers, they were asked to deposit about 10% of the supposed reward as a "processing fee." Many people fell for this trick, transferring money in hopes of receiving their prize.
Expanding Through Social Media
The gang also used social media to widen its reach. They posted advertisements for instant loans and lottery schemes. These online campaigns specifically targeted vulnerable users, adding another layer to their fraudulent operations.
The Bhubaneswar police continue their investigation. They are working to dismantle the entire network and prevent further victims from being deceived.
