Did CBI Uncover a Major HPZ Crypto Fraud with Operation Chakra-V?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Five arrests made in connection with HPZ crypto fraud.
- Operation Chakra-V targets cybercrime across India.
- Fraud involved shell companies and illegal fund collection.
- Funds were funneled through cryptocurrency wallets.
- CBI aims to expose the full extent of the fraud network.
Bengaluru, Oct 4 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended five individuals following synchronized searches nationwide as part of 'Operation Chakra-V', targeting a significant fraud involving the HPZ cryptocurrency token, according to an official statement released on Saturday.
The inquiry has revealed that masterminds located overseas orchestrated this conspiracy in collaboration with Indian nationals by establishing numerous shell companies within India. These entities were then associated with various fintech and payment aggregator platforms to unlawfully gather funds from the public.
The funds amassed were aggregated, converted into cryptocurrencies, and shuffled through a series of crypto wallets before being transferred internationally to obscure the origins of the illicit gains, the statement indicated.
The CBI, as part of its ongoing Operation Chakra-V against cybercriminal activities, has executed searches related to the HPZ Crypto Currency Token fraud case, unveiling a sophisticated, large-scale transnational cyber fraud amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees.
On October 3, coordinated search efforts were conducted at seven sites across Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, resulting in the recovery of critical digital evidence and financial documents. The case, registered under criminal conspiracy, impersonation, and fraud, as well as violations of the Information Technology Act, pertains to an elaborate criminal scheme devised by foreign masterminds in collaboration with Indian associates.
The agency reported that between 2021 and 2023, organized cyber frauds were executed throughout India under the pretense of loan, job, investment, and cryptocurrency schemes.
“These scams were facilitated through the establishment of multiple shell companies, which were utilized to create mule bank accounts. The funds collected from victims were funneled through these accounts, converted into cryptocurrencies, and subsequently transferred abroad through intricate financial layering and crypto conversion processes,” the CBI stated.
The CBI has detained five suspects for their alleged involvement in the fraud, and they are set to appear before the appropriate court.
Ongoing investigations aim to trace cross-border financial paths, identify additional conspirators, and reveal the full scale of the operation.
The agency reiterated its commitment to combating cyber-enabled financial crimes through intelligence-driven initiatives, inter-agency collaboration, and advanced digital forensic techniques to counter complex transnational fraud networks.