Five Arrested in Massive Rs 930 Crore Cybercrime Network Spanning 25 States
The Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) has announced the arrest of five individuals from Gujarat and Maharashtra in connection with a sprawling cybercrime operation that defrauded victims of a staggering Rs 930 crore. This sophisticated network spanned 25 states and 3 Union Territories, impacting 1,535 individuals through 80 mule bank accounts.
Details of the Arrests and Accused Individuals
According to official statements, the arrested persons include three from Gujarat and two from Maharashtra. They have been identified as Abdul Hafeez Panwala and Mushtaq Abdul Khalid Khanani, both residents of Gir-Somnath district, along with Gagji Manji Rajput from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. From Thane, Maharashtra, the accused are Shabbir Mohammad Hanif Bhadela and Mohammad Taha Shabbir Bhadela.
The arrests followed a targeted raid in Surat, led by Detective Inspector B M Choudhary, based on a credible tip-off. The operation uncovered a pre-planned criminal conspiracy designed to systematically defraud victims across the nation.
Modus Operandi of the Cybercrime Syndicate
The CCoE revealed that the gang employed a complex and deceptive strategy to carry out their illicit activities. The cybercriminals created false identities and contacted potential victims through various digital platforms, including SMS, WhatsApp, and Telegram. They used a range of scams to lure or threaten individuals, such as:
- Digital arrest threats
- Investment fraud schemes
- UPI fraud tactics
- Deposit and loan frauds
- Job fraud offers
Once money was stolen from victims, it was deposited into bank accounts opened in the names of various individuals. These account holders were paid commissions for allowing the gang to use their documents to operate these so-called "mule" accounts. The funds were then withdrawn from Dubai using Forex prepaid cards and delivered to an international syndicate, highlighting the transnational nature of this criminal enterprise.
Scale of the Fraud and Investigation Findings
During the investigation, the CCoE identified a total of 1,535 complaints filed against the 80 bank accounts involved in this case. The financial impact amounted to Rs 930 crore, with complaints registered from a wide array of regions across India. The breakdown of complaints by state and union territory includes:
- Gujarat: 264 complaints
- Maharashtra: 215 complaints
- Karnataka: 156 complaints
- Uttar Pradesh: 101 complaints
- Tamil Nadu: 106 complaints
- Telangana: 97 complaints
- Rajasthan: 89 complaints
- Delhi: 73 complaints
- Haryana: 56 complaints
- Kerala: 55 complaints
- Andhra Pradesh: 53 complaints
- West Bengal: 51 complaints
- Bihar: 43 complaints
- Punjab: 28 complaints
- Odisha: 26 complaints
- Madhya Pradesh: 26 complaints
- Uttarakhand: 13 complaints
- Jharkhand: 12 complaints
- Chhattisgarh: 11 complaints
- Goa: 10 complaints
- Assam: 16 complaints
- Jammu and Kashmir: 15 complaints
- Arunachal Pradesh: 3 complaints
- Nagaland: 3 complaints
- Tripura: 2 complaints
- Chandigarh: 2 complaints
- Himachal Pradesh: 7 complaints
- Meghalaya: 2 complaints
This extensive geographic spread underscores the nationwide reach of the cybercrime network and the urgent need for enhanced digital security measures.
Ongoing Investigation and Implications
The CCoE has stated that further investigation is currently underway to uncover additional details and potentially identify more individuals involved in this syndicate. This case highlights the growing threat of organized cybercrime in India and the critical role of specialized agencies like the Cyber Centre of Excellence in combating such financial crimes.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant against unsolicited digital communications and to report any suspicious activities to prevent falling victim to similar scams. The arrests mark a significant step in dismantling a major cybercrime operation, but they also serve as a stark reminder of the evolving challenges in cybersecurity and fraud prevention.
