In a significant crackdown on digital financial crimes, the Delhi Police has successfully dismantled two major interstate cyber fraud syndicates in separate operations, leading to the arrest of eight individuals allegedly involved in sophisticated scams that defrauded victims of substantial sums.
First Case: Massive Fake Online Trading Scam Uncovered
In the first major breakthrough, the crime branch of Delhi Police arrested three key accused: Biswajit Mondal (32) and Ashish Aggarwal (35) from Kolkata, along with Rajibb Shah from Lucknow. Additionally, Shubham Sharma, an associate of Shah, was apprehended from Kolkata for his alleged participation in an elaborate fake online trading scheme that reportedly swindled investors of an astonishing amount exceeding Rs 300 crore.
Investigation Techniques and Evidence
The investigation into this syndicate was meticulous and multi-faceted. Police tracked the accused through a comprehensive analysis of 2,567 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) across various states. This was complemented by scrutiny of data from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and bank KYC records obtained from more than 200 branches nationwide.
Furthermore, authorities traced complex money trails linked to over 260 bank accounts that had been opened under the names of 105 fictitious companies. Technical surveillance, call data records, and IP analysis were instrumental in leading police to the fake company addresses and operational locations used by the fraudsters.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam emphasized the technical sophistication of the investigation, stating that these methods were crucial in uncovering the syndicate's activities.
Seizures and Syndicate History
During search operations, police seized substantial evidence, including 39 mobile phones, 258 SIM cards, four laptops, numerous ATM cards, cheque books, and various banking documents. Additionally, authorities froze Rs 19 lakh in connected accounts.
Investigators revealed that this organized syndicate had been actively operating for approximately five years, skillfully evading detection through their technical expertise and exploitation of legal loopholes in the financial system.
Second Case: KYC Updation Fraud Racket Busted
In a separate but equally significant operation, Delhi Police busted an organized multi-state cyber fraud syndicate specializing in cheating bank customers under the pretext of KYC (Know Your Customer) updation. Four accused were arrested from Jharkhand and West Bengal in this case.
The arrested individuals were identified as Shiv Kumar Ravidas (22), Sanjay Ravidas (33), and Dinesh Ravidas (29), all residents of Dhanbad district in Jharkhand, along with Shubham Kumar Barnwal (25), a resident of Hooghly district in West Bengal.
Modus Operandi of the KYC Scam
The racket came to light following a complaint filed on December 13 last year by a resident of Sagarpur in southwest Delhi, who was duped of over Rs 8.3 lakh. The gang employed a sophisticated method where they impersonated bank officials and contacted potential victims through phone calls and messages.
Creating a sense of urgency regarding KYC verification, the fraudsters induced victims to install malicious APK files on their mobile phones. This malicious software enabled the accused to gain illegal remote access to banking applications, allowing them to fraudulently avail loans and siphon off money into mule accounts.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Amit Goel explained that the cheated amounts were subsequently withdrawn through ATMs, POS machines, and various other banking channels, making the money trail difficult to trace.
Evidence Recovery and Raids
During coordinated raids conducted in Jharkhand and West Bengal, police successfully seized 10 mobile phones, 13 SIM cards, malicious software, and other incriminating digital evidence that will be crucial for prosecution.
These twin operations highlight the increasing sophistication of cyber fraud in India and demonstrate Delhi Police's enhanced capabilities in tackling complex digital financial crimes that span multiple states and involve substantial financial losses to citizens.
