The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches in six states and apprehended three individuals in connection with a Rs 1.86 crore “Digital Arrest” fraud case. The scam involved defrauding a senior citizen from Kerala’s Kottayam district. Investigators utilized digital forensics and financial analysis to uncover a complex network spanning multiple Indian states, with potential international ties.
The CBI’s operations targeted two key elements of the cyber-fraud ecosystem: mule bank account networks and fraudulently obtained SIM cards. Searches were carried out in various locations including Goa, Bengaluru, Palakkad (Kerala), Nagpur, Hyderabad, and Delhi. During these searches, digital devices, debit cards, bank account documents, and other incriminating materials were seized for further examination.
One of the arrested individuals, Blessin Jacob Abraham from Goa, is suspected of managing mule accounts and facilitating cryptocurrency transactions related to the fraud. Another accused, Mohammad Mushtaque from Nagpur, operated a shell company to receive illicit funds. Mohammad Junaid from Bengaluru was involved in fraudulently procuring SIM cards for cyber-fraud activities.
The investigation is ongoing to identify more collaborators, both domestic and international, and dismantle the broader cyber-fraud infrastructure. The CBI emphasized its commitment to combating organized cyber-criminal networks and ensuring the integrity of digital systems.
