The Dantewada police in Chhattisgarh have successfully dismantled a large interstate cyber fraud gang involved in trading mule bank accounts. Four main suspects were apprehended in Rajasthan and brought to Dantewada for further investigation. This operation signifies a significant achievement in combating the surge of cyber crimes impacting victims across various states.
The gang’s primary activity revolved around the procurement and sale of numerous bank accounts utilized as mule accounts to transfer money obtained through cyber fraud. The accused utilized international mobile numbers to set up WhatsApp accounts, facilitating these illicit transactions. Funds acquired from diverse cyber scams were funneled into these accounts and subsequently withdrawn in cash from overseas ATMs using debit cards with substantial transaction limits.
The operation was spearheaded by Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai, Additional SP R.K. Barman, and Cyber Cell Nodal Officer DSP Gaurav Singh. A collaborative team from Barsur, Bacheli, and Gidam police stations, led by Inspector Sanjay Ursa, was deployed to Rajasthan for this mission. Through meticulous financial transaction analysis and advanced cyber forensic tools, the team successfully apprehended the suspects.
The arrested individuals, identified as Archit Gujarati (20), Adil Hussain (24), Amit Verma (21), and Bhupendra Jangid (23), were found in possession of mobile phones, SIM cards, ATM cards, and cash amounting to Rs 1,18,500 obtained through fraudulent means. Over 20 cyber fraud complaints have been lodged against the gang in states including Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka.
The investigation unveiled that the illicit operations were primarily based in the Nagaur region of Rajasthan. Dantewada police are actively engaged in conducting awareness campaigns in local communities, educating residents about various cyber threats like banking frauds, part-time job scams, and the risks associated with sharing OTPs or suspicious links.
