According to the police, the syndicate ran fake firms and opened multiple current accounts to launder money defrauded from victims across at least 12 states. “The accused earned a commission of Rs 1.5 lakh for every bank account opened to facilitate the racket,” the police said in a statement
Further investigation is underway to trace the money trail. Representational Pic
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has dismantled a nationwide cyber fraud network allegedly operated by a Dubai-based Indian mastermind, arresting five individuals, including a bank relationship manager, for aiding in fraudulent financial transactions, news agency PTI reported, quoting officials on Friday.
According to the police, the syndicate ran fake firms and opened multiple current accounts to launder money defrauded from victims across at least 12 states.
“The accused earned a commission of Rs 1.5 lakh for every bank account opened to facilitate the racket,” the police said in a statement.
The arrested individuals — Manjeet Singh (28), Manshvi (23), Manish Mehra (33), Sombir (43), and Anup (35) — were nabbed from Delhi, Gurugram, and Hisar during coordinated raids after their locations were traced through digital surveillance, PTI reported.
An investigation into an e-first information report (FIR) filed in June revealed that the group was acting under the instructions of a Dubai-based handler identified as Tom. Anup, who is a bank official, allegedly helped open fake current accounts and leaked internal alerts from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) to the syndicate to prevent account freezing.
The other accused managed the fake firms, maintained ledgers, and coordinated financial transactions, PTI reported. During interrogation, they reportedly confessed to creating three fake companies and opening eight bank accounts to route the defrauded funds.
The laundered money was later converted into cryptocurrency (USD Tether - USDT) to conceal its trail and transfer it overseas.
The police have recovered 18 mobile phones, one laptop containing cryptocurrency wallet data, 36 SIM cards, several cheque books, and bank statements from the accused.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Aditya Gautam said the seized documents are linked to 52 cyber fraud cases reported across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Kerala, and Haryana.
Further investigation is underway to trace the money trail and identify the overseas handlers involved in the operation.
Two members of cybercrime gang held after retired Mumbai bank employee loses Rs 50.5 lakh
Mumbai Cyber Police (North Region) have arrested two active members of a cybercrime gang that posed as senior cops and extorted large sums of money from senior citizens by fabricating false money laundering cases and arrest threats.
On October 9, the Mumbai Cyber Police registered following a complaint filed by a retired bank employee who lost around Rs 50.50 lakh in a 'digital arrest' fraud.
According to a police officer, the fraud occurred between September 11 and 24. One of the arrested men allegedly contacted the complainant through WhatsApp and video calls, posing as a Nashik Police officer. He falsely accused the victim of being involved in a money laundering case, claiming that funds in his bank account were being used for illegal activities.
Speaking on the fraud, a police officer said, "To make the allegations seem genuine, the fraudster sent forged documents via WhatsApp, including letters bearing official seals, the victim’s name, Aadhaar number, a fake first information report (FIR) and even a counterfeit Indian Police Service (IPS) officer identity card. The complainant and his wife were allegedly threatened with immediate arrest and told that they were under surveillance."
Under the pretext of verifying their bank details, the accused extracted sensitive financial information and tricked the complainant into transferring Rs 50.50 lakh to multiple accounts.
(With PTI inputs)
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