Bokaro cyber fraud racket busted: Nine arrested in Jharkhand crackdown
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bokaro district police in Jharkhand have dismantled an interstate cyber fraud racket and arrested nine individuals allegedly running an organised online scam network, officials confirmed on Thursday, 16 July. The accused were operating from rented premises in Bokaro and reportedly targeting victims spread across multiple states.
How the Racket Operated
At a press conference on Thursday, Bokaro Superintendent of Police Nathu Singh Meena said the accused posed as bank officials or representatives of a fictitious company called 'RM Tour and Travels' to approach unsuspecting victims. Once trust was established, they allegedly extracted banking credentials and account details under various pretexts, then siphoned funds into accounts controlled by the gang.
Who Was Arrested
The nine persons taken into custody have been identified as Samrat Kumar Vinay, Niranja Kumar, Sudama Kumar, Nitish Kumar, Subodh Kumar, Premchand Kumar, Dharmaraj Kumar, Brijesh Kumar, and Ravi Prabhakar. Samrat Kumar Vinay is a resident of Bokaro Sector-3; the remaining eight hail from various districts of Bihar.
Evidence Seized
Police recovered cash worth ₹43,100, 18 bank passbooks, three cheque books, 10 debit cards, nine SIM cards, and 10 mobile phones from the accused. Bank accounts allegedly used to receive defrauded funds have been frozen to prevent further transactions.
Bihar Connection and Ongoing Investigation
Preliminary investigations suggest the key operators and handlers of the racket are based in Bihar. SP Meena said Bokaro police are actively coordinating with law enforcement agencies in Bihar to identify and apprehend the masterminds. Seized mobile phones, banking documents, and other digital evidence will undergo forensic examination to trace additional network members and establish the full scale of the operation.
Investigators are also examining the role of the landlord from whose property the gang operated. According to police, legal action will be initiated if negligence or complicity is established. The criminal antecedents of all nine arrested persons are also being verified. This case follows a broader pattern of cyber fraud hubs operating out of rented accommodations in Jharkhand — a trend that has drawn increasing attention from central agencies in recent months.