Balasore Police Crack Down on Interstate Cyber Fraud Network
In a significant breakthrough against organized cybercrime, police in Balasore district on Tuesday apprehended four men accused of operating an extensive network of mule bank accounts. The arrests were made as part of the ongoing 'Cyber Kavach' special drive, which specifically targets the criminal misuse of banking infrastructure for fraudulent activities.
Arrests and Identities of the Accused
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Goutam Kumar Das, Rabindra Kumar Majhi, Kartik Singh, and Dinakrushna Behera. Law enforcement officials detained the suspects from the Khantapada area within Balasore district following a thorough investigation.
Operation of Fraudulent Banking Network
Additional Superintendent of Police Gayatri Pradhan provided crucial details about the operation. During verification procedures, investigators discovered that the accused were allegedly managing multiple current and savings accounts that had been opened using the identities of unsuspecting individuals. These compromised accounts were then systematically sold or rented to fraudsters operating across various states, creating a pipeline for illegal financial transactions.
Legal Framework and Evidence Collection
The arrests are connected to a case registered this month at the cyber crime and economic offence police station. The charges have been filed under sections 319(2), 318(4), 111(3), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.
Police conducted a comprehensive seizure operation, recovering substantial evidence including:
- 49 cheque leaves
- 147 ATM and debit cards
- 4 bank passbooks
- 3 PAN cards
- A driving license
- A vehicle registration certificate (RC)
- A voter ID card
- 4 mobile phones
- A car
Digital Evidence and Financial Impact
The four seized mobile phones contained compelling evidence of suspicious banking transactions and access to various digital payment platforms. Investigators found that the devices held multiple email IDs that were allegedly used to link and manage the mule accounts, along with credentials for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) applications and net banking services.
ASP Pradhan revealed that 25 separate complaints had been registered against accounts linked to the accused on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The total value of fraudulent transactions traced to these accounts has reached approximately Rs 58 lakh, highlighting the substantial financial impact of this criminal network.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Advisory
Police authorities have confirmed that further investigation is actively underway to identify interstate connections and other beneficiaries involved in this fraud network. The investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the criminal operation and bring all participants to justice.
ASP Pradhan issued a strong advisory to citizens, urging them to exercise extreme caution when sharing banking details with anyone. She emphasized the importance of promptly reporting any suspicious transactions to authorities through official channels to help prevent similar fraud schemes.
Broader Implications for Cyber Security
This case underscores the growing challenge of cyber fraud in India and demonstrates how criminal networks exploit banking systems through sophisticated methods. The successful operation by Balasore police represents a significant step in combating financial cybercrime and protecting citizens from such predatory schemes.
Authorities continue to emphasize the critical need for public awareness and vigilance in digital financial transactions, particularly as fraudsters develop increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit banking vulnerabilities.
