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Delhi Police Bust Rs 22 Cr Cyber Fraud Ring
9 Apr
Summary
- Over 113 accused arrested in multi-state cyber and financial fraud crackdown.
- Fraudulent activities involved over Rs 22 crore in illicit transactions.
- NRI duped of Rs 3.8 lakh in a fake air ticket booking scam.
In a significant crackdown named Operation Cy-Hawk-04, Delhi Police's South-West district units have dismantled multiple inter-state cyber and financial fraud syndicates. This operation led to the apprehension of 113 accused individuals across 57 distinct cases, uncovering a massive fraud network that siphoned over Rs 22 crore.
Investigators successfully linked 303 complaints from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal to mule bank accounts and mobile numbers utilized by the fraudsters. Police also managed to freeze approximately Rs 17 lakh in beneficiary accounts and seized cash, luxury vehicles, digital devices, and forged documents during coordinated raids.
One notable case involved a syndicate specifically targeting Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) through fraudulent online travel bookings. Using social media platforms, including a fake Instagram page, the accused lured victims with discounted international flight offers. A complainant was defrauded of Rs 3.8 lakh while attempting to book tickets for a relative in Canada.
This travel fraud syndicate operated across Delhi, Goa, and Mumbai. The alleged mastermind, identified as Mridul Joshi, managed a fake call center and employed mule bank accounts to launder funds. In this specific case, four individuals were arrested, with seizures including Rs 47 lakh in cash, a Mercedes S-Class, and various electronic devices.
Furthermore, a transnational fake loan app syndicate was exposed, resulting in six arrests. This gang used mule accounts and UPI IDs for fund collection and communicated with foreign handlers via virtual numbers from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Victims were extorted through threats involving their personal data and morphed images.
The extensive operation involved advanced technical surveillance, digital footprint analysis, and financial trail tracing. A total of 488 individuals were brought in for questioning, and over 160 people linked to the financial chains of these fraud networks received notices. Police have registered 23 new FIRs and expect further arrests and recoveries as investigations into wider interstate and international connections continue.
