Have Authorities Uncovered an International Cyber Fraud Syndicate in Madhubani?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Patna, Feb 6 (NationPress) Law enforcement in Bihar’s Madhubani district has dismantled a cross-border cyber fraud syndicate that was collaborating with criminals overseas.
Four suspects from this group were apprehended on Thursday, leading to the confiscation of a significant quantity of electronic gear and cash.
During the raid, authorities seized seven SIM boxes, 136 mobile phones and SIM cards, various electronic devices, and Rs 1.68 lakh in cash, alongside additional tools utilized in cyber fraud.
The operation was based on precise intelligence and was a coordinated effort involving personnel from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Economic Offences Unit (EOU), District Intelligence Unit (DIU), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Nagar Police Station, and Cyber Police Station.
Madhubani Superintendent of Police (SP) Yogendra Kumar reported that the initial raid took place at a mobile repair shop near the railway station under the jurisdiction of the Nagar police station.
Following this, further searches were conducted at the homes of Mandeep Kumar (23) at Tirhut colony, Mohammad Ehsan, Raushan Kumar, and Vikas Kumar, resulting in all four being arrested.
SP Yogendra Kumar explained that Mandeep Kumar, aided by Raushan Kumar, was running an illicit telecom operation from his residence in Tirhut colony in Madhubani.
“Utilizing SIM boxes and telecom devices from private companies, he was working with cybercriminals located in China, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and other nations through a trunking system to execute cyber fraud,” the SP stated.
Officials disclosed that the accused were managing an unauthorized telecom exchange, converting international Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calls into local voice calls, which allowed cybercriminals to defraud individuals in India while obscuring their international origins.
During questioning, Mandeep Kumar revealed that Roshan Kumar had helped him supply seven SIM boxes and SIM cards, for which he received Rs 800 per SIM.
The SIM cards were reportedly registered in the names of unsuspecting individuals and were disposed of after deactivation to eliminate digital footprints.
All seized items have been confiscated, and a case has been filed against the suspects under relevant legal provisions.
Authorities indicated that further investigations are ongoing to identify other participants in the network and track financial transactions linked to the global cyber fraud operation.
The Madhubani police recovered seven SIM boxes, numerous unused SIM cards from VI, AIRTEL, and JIO, 18 mobile phones, two TP-Link electronic devices, two AIRTEL Xstream Fiber routers, two TP Link TL-R 5408PE-AC 2.5G POE, one TP Link charger, one USB charging station, four mobile motherboards, 25 charging cables, six computer cables, 10 additional cables, one laptop, one SBI debit card, one trolley bag, and a total of Rs 1,68,000 in cash along with other electronic equipment and documentation.