Mumbai Police Uncover Major Cyber Fraud Ring, Arrest Six in ₹72 Crore Scheme

Mumbai, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : Mumbai Police have made significant strides in combating cybercrime, uncovering an interstate gang responsible for a massive ₹72 crore fraud. Six suspects have been apprehended in connection with this case, which has revealed a total of 255 cybercrime incidents across the country.

The investigation began on July 30, when an accountant from a private company in Mulund received a WhatsApp message from an unknown individual using a profile picture of the company owner. The scammer managed to transfer ₹10 lakh from the company’s account. Following this incident, a case was registered at the Mulund police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act.

Technical analysis during the investigation traced ₹5.5 lakh of the defrauded amount to a bank account in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Acting on this lead, police arrested three suspects in Meerut. Further inquiries led to the arrest of one individual in Ghaziabad, one in Vadodara, and another in Kandivali, Mumbai. Authorities seized ₹5.5 lakh in cash and five mobile phones from the suspects.

As the investigation progressed, police uncovered more alarming details. One suspect’s mobile phone revealed 11 bank accounts linked to 182 cyber complaints across 21 states. Another suspect had 49 bank accounts associated with 73 complaints, totaling an estimated ₹72 crore in fraud.

The gang operated by trading bank accounts and SIM cards through a Telegram group. They would install APK files on victims’ mobile devices to siphon off funds, which were then laundered through various accounts and converted into USDT cryptocurrency.

This operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, along with other senior officers, and received assistance from police departments in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.

In light of these developments, police are urging the public to refrain from sharing their bank account, ATM card, checkbook, or SIM card with anyone for commission. They also advise against installing APK files sent by unknown individuals and encourage victims of cyber fraud to contact the 1930 helpline immediately.