Indian police dismantle organized cybercrime and digital arrest networks

Indian police units in Gujarat and Maharashtra have dismantled organized cybercrime networks specializing in ‘digital arrest’ scams and SIM farming. In Mumbai, authorities arrested six individuals, including an IIT-Delhi graduate and a private bank operations manager, for allegedly coercing a 68-year-old retiree into transferring ₹1.12 crore via WhatsApp video calls. The suspects falsely claimed the victim's SIM card was linked to a massive money laundering case to maintain psychological pressure.

In Gujarat, the Cyber Centre of Excellence arrested three men for defrauding a senior citizen of ₹3.76 crore. Investigations revealed a sophisticated operation involving shell companies, cryptocurrency laundering via USDT, and the use of tools like Pushbullet and Neo Finance. Police seized multiple bank accounts, mobile phones, and laptops, linking the suspects to 29 different cyber fraud cases across 13 states.

Additionally, the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested three others involved in OTP farming for foreign investment scammers. One suspect was found to have utilized at least 6,000 SIM cards to facilitate fraudulent activities.