In a significant operation, the Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack apprehended 12 individuals involved in an interstate cybercriminal network. The arrested individuals include seven from Bihar, four from Kerala, and one from Odisha. The gang, known as the Katri Sarai Gang of Bihar, operated clandestinely from a residence in the city, with key members identified as Debasish Tripathy, Arjun Raj alias Bitu, Bijay Kumar, and Pankaj Kumar.
The gang engaged in various fraudulent activities, combining manual and cyber methods to deceive victims. Pankaj, one of the masterminds, gathered customer databases from platforms like NAPTOL and MEESHO, along with mule bank accounts, to facilitate online money transfers. The criminals utilized fake pre-activated SIM cards obtained through false documentation to communicate with victims and conduct fraudulent transactions.
The accused individuals employed multiple tactics to defraud people, including posing as fake gift voucher winners, orchestrating the Kerala lottery scam, and offering fraudulent loans. Debasish Tripathy, a web graphics designer, created deceptive materials like scratch cards and gift vouchers to lure victims. The gang members targeted unsuspecting individuals through social media advertisements, extracting money under false pretenses.
