Gandhinagar, March 6: Gujarat Police’s Cyber Center of Excellence has arrested two individuals for sending youths to work in cyber fraud centers overseas. Authorities announced the arrests on Thursday.
The suspects have been identified as Kaushik Pethani from Amreli and Dhruv Dobariya from Surat. They were apprehended based on intelligence received by the police.
Investigations reveal that the duo lured unemployed youths from Gujarat and other parts of the country with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, specifically in nations known for cyber fraud operations.
According to police, Pethani was known in the cyber fraud network as “Ali Baba,” managing the entire process of sending recruits overseas.
Vivek Bheda, Superintendent of Police at the Cyber Center of Excellence, stated that the investigation uncovered a recruitment network operated by the accused.
He said, “The Cyber Center of Excellence in Gujarat is committed to controlling all types of cyber crimes. In this context, we have arrested two agents involved in this serious cyber fraud case related to cyber slavery.”
The suspects reportedly promoted job opportunities abroad through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. Interested candidates were first called for interviews and trained in writing, communication skills, and soft skills.
Subsequently, the accused arranged for passport processing, flight bookings, and other travel arrangements to send youths abroad.
Investigations have revealed that individuals sent to countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos were later forced into cyber fraud activities, including cryptocurrency scams, online investment fraud, and other online scams.
According to police, victims were kept in controlled locations, and their passports and mobile phones were confiscated. Those who refused to participate in these activities faced physical and mental abuse and were not allowed to return to India.
Investigators noted that the suspects charged between 70,000 to 150,000 rupees from each individual. This network also targeted individuals from Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Police indicated that Pethani was the main agent of this network, while Dobariya assisted him as a sub-agent. So far, it has been revealed that Dobariya sent at least five people abroad, although the total number of individuals sent through this network remains unclear.
Authorities have also discovered that some individuals connected to this network had previously traveled to the United Arab Emirates, Laos, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Additionally, plans were uncovered for establishing new cyber fraud centers in South Africa and Georgia.
The police have stated that the investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to identify other individuals linked to this network. Officials have urged the public to be cautious of unknown agencies or social media advertisements promising jobs abroad.
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