What Led to the ED Raids at 11 Locations in a Global Cyber Fraud Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- ED conducted raids at 11 locations.
- Cyber fraud case involves Rs 260 crore.
- Impersonation tactics used by fraudsters.
- Victims' money converted to cryptocurrencies.
- Criminals exploited both Indian and foreign nationals.
New Delhi, Aug 6 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed simultaneous raids at 11 locations across the national capital and three other states as part of an investigation into a global cyber fraud case amounting to Rs 260 crore.
The actions were taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, following FIRs filed by the Delhi Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Areas targeted included Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Gurugram (Haryana), Dehradun (Uttarakhand), and Delhi.
The fraud perpetrators deceived both foreign and Indian citizens by impersonating law enforcement officials, extorting funds through threats of arrest.
Additionally, the culprits masqueraded as tech support agents from Microsoft or Amazon, tricking victims out of their money.
Victims' funds were converted into cryptocurrencies, which were then transferred to the accused.
The criminals amassed Rs 260 crore in Bitcoins across various crypto-wallets, subsequently liquidated into cash via USDTs using multiple hawala operators in the UAE.
Previously, on June 26, the CBI apprehended a principal figure in a transnational cyber extortion ring during coordinated operations in Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The suspect, Prince Jashvantlal Anand, is alleged to be the mastermind behind an international scheme targeting foreign nationals, particularly in the US and Canada.
This syndicate is charged with impersonating government officials, fabricating legal threats, and extorting money from naïve victims.
On June 25, the ED initiated a coordinated offensive across Gujarat and Maharashtra related to a sizable cyber fraud exceeding Rs 100 crore.
Raids were executed in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Mumbai under the PMLA. Key individuals implicated in the case include Maqbool Doctor, Kashif Doctor, Basam Doctor, Mahesh Mafatlal Desai, and Maz Abdul Rahim Nada.
Authorities assert that the group misled victims through tactics such as fake enforcement notices, USDT crypto trading scams, and false digital arrest threats.