Massive Inter-State Cyber Fraud Exposed in Gujarat: Rs 39.41 Crore Stolen
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Gandhinagar, March 3 (NationPress) The Cyber Crime Cell of the CID in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, has successfully uncovered an inter-state cyber fraud operation that is believed to have defrauded victims of over Rs 39.41 crore, according to officials on Tuesday.
Authorities arrested two suspects, identified as Amit Gangera, who runs a hair salon, and Riteshkumar Patel, a stationery trader. Their arrest followed a thorough investigation that utilized technical surveillance, digital trail examination, and human intelligence.
Both individuals hail from Ahmedabad.
Investigators have linked the accused to 59 cybercrime cases reported across multiple states, amounting to a staggering total of approximately Rs 39,41,26,382.
The breakdown of these cases includes 13 in Maharashtra, 10 in Karnataka, five in Haryana, four each in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, three in Gujarat, Kerala, and Telangana, two in Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh, and Odisha, and one each in Jharkhand, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.
Officials indicated that the suspects allegedly rented out bank accounts from financially troubled traders, using these accounts to funnel money acquired through deceptive practices.
Analysis of their mobile devices uncovered information on over 11 bank accounts and the use of multiple SIM cards.
Validation through the national cybercrime portal corroborated their alleged involvement in complaints lodged in various regions across the nation.
Police revealed that the group employed diverse tactics to ensnare victims, including so-called digital arrest scams, investment and trading frauds, UPI-related scams, training frauds, and part-time job offers.
Victims were approached via social media and messaging apps, enticed with promises of substantial returns in a short timeframe.
They were then convinced to transfer large sums of money, which were subsequently laundered through numerous bank accounts to evade detection.
An official stated, "The arrests were achieved through meticulous technical analysis and digital tracking, emphasizing that stringent measures against such groups will persist."
Further inquiries will delve into tracing the money trail to uncover additional accomplices.
During this operation, authorities confiscated three mobile phones and Rs 5 lakh in cash.