Has the CBI Dismantled a Digital Arrest Fraud Network Involving 13 Accused?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- CBI filed charges against 13 individuals in a major cyber fraud case.
- Operation Chakra - V aims to dismantle organized cybercrime.
- Extensive analysis of 15,000 IP addresses linked to the fraud.
- Evidence suggests international masterminds are involved.
- Slave compounds in Myanmar are significant in executing these scams.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted a charge sheet against 13 individuals implicated in a significant incident of “digital arrest” cyber fraud. This move is part of the agency's dedicated, methodical approach under Operation Chakra - V, aimed at combating organized transnational cybercrime, as stated by the agency on Thursday.
The case was initiated suo motu by the CBI to thoroughly investigate ten notable occurrences of Digital Arrest frauds reported nationwide, coinciding with a sharp increase in such crimes.
In October 2025, the CBI executed synchronized searches across Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, and West Bengal.
“These operations resulted in the seizure of critical materials, which included electronic devices, communication logs, financial documents, and other digital proofs,” noted the CBI in its press release.
Based on the evidence obtained, three individuals were arrested and are currently in judicial custody.
The central agency emphasized that it analyzed over 15,000 IP addresses linked to the scam networks during the investigation.
“The technical scrutiny unveiled extensive cross-border connections, indicating that several primary bank accounts utilized for the collection and transfer of victim funds were managed by masterminds residing in Cambodia, Hong Kong, and China,” the report stated.
From the extensive technical dataset, Indian IP addresses were identified, facilitating targeted searches and the discovery of local operatives.
“Significantly, several streams of evidence now suggest that slave compounds in Myanmar and adjacent regions have become major centers for executing Digital Arrest frauds, where trafficked Indian nationals are forced to conduct cybercrime operations akin to call centers,” the CBI stated.
“These revelations are consistent with intelligence gathered during parallel CBI inquiries into cyber-slavery and organized digital exploitation networks in South-East Asia,” it added.
The investigation has also yielded substantial leads on the financial trails, call-flow patterns, VoIP routing, misuse of remote access tools, and the broader technological framework supporting Digital Arrest scams.
This systematic, case-by-case dismantling of each operational aspect is fundamental to the CBI’s evolving strategy for enforcing cybercrime laws.
Based on the gathered evidence, the CBI has filed a chargesheet against 13 accused within the mandatory 60-day timeframe under the provisions of the IPC and IT Act.
Further investigations are ongoing to identify additional conspirators, facilitators, money-mule handlers, and the international infrastructure that supports these transnational cyber fraud operations.