In a significant crackdown on digital crime, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Surat police has dismantled a sophisticated cyberfraud network operating from a seemingly ordinary movers and packers office in the city's Dindoli area. The raid led to the immediate arrest of four individuals, with a total of nine persons booked in the case.
Raid Uncovers Network of Mule Accounts
Acting on a specific tip-off, a team from the SOG conducted a raid on Tuesday at the premises of Krishna Movers and Packers, located in the Green Valley Complex of Dindoli. The police arrested four individuals from the spot: Pratik Vasava, Dipak Pande, Rupesh Handage, and Bhushan Patil. The investigation was spearheaded by SOG police inspector Atul Sonara.
During the search of the office, authorities made a crucial discovery. They recovered details linked to 14 separate 'mule' bank accounts, which are accounts used to layer and move illicit funds. The seized evidence included:
- Nine cheque books
- Four passbooks
- Seven debit cards
- Five SIM cards
- Eight firm stamps
- Computers and mobile phones
Modus Operandi: Routing Fraud to Crypto and Dubai
Inspector Sonara revealed the intricate method used by the accused. The gang was involved in siphoning money obtained from cyberfraud victims into these mule accounts. The illicit funds were then converted into the cryptocurrency USDT (Tether). This digital currency was subsequently transferred to a key figure based abroad, identified only by the alias 'Big Bro' in Dubai.
"We have also identified four more persons involved in the racket," Sonara added, indicating that the investigation is expanding beyond those already in custody.
Nationwide Web of Fraud Complaints
Further police verification uncovered the extensive reach of this operation. The 14 uncovered mule accounts have been linked to at least 71 distinct cyberfraud complaints registered in various parts of India. These connections confirm that the racket was not a localised operation but part of a wider network targeting victims across the country, with transactions worth lakhs of rupees being routed through the accounts.
Following their arrest, all the accused were presented before a local court. The court has granted the police five days of custody for the arrested individuals to enable further interrogation and to unravel the full scope of the criminal network, including tracing the masterminds and the flow of funds internationally.
