CBI conducts searches at 40 locations in digital arrest cases

The CBI on Wednesday carried out nationwide searches at approximately 40 locations across Delhi NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala and West Bengal in connection with a transnational cyber-enabled “digital arrest” fraud, as part of ongoing Operation Chakra-V. The CBI had registered a comprehensive FIR, based on the complaints received on NCRP Portal of I4C MHA from 9 different victims of digital arrest. CBI then conducted detailed investigation by focussing on both mule accounts and telecommunication channels used to approach the victim. This led to identification of approx. 40 individuals who were part of the organised cyber-crime network perpetrating the digital arrest fraud. 
During the operation, CBI has unearthed an extensive domestic facilitation network found involved in supplying mule bank accounts and enabling parallel hawala channels for layering and movement of proceeds of crime. Investigation has revealed that part of money had been withdrawn in India and remaining was sent abroad, to be then withdrawn from foreign located ATMs. Analysis of more then 15000 IP addresses revealed that the perpetrators of the digital arrest frauds were carrying out its operations from foreign locations including Cambodia and using Indian mule account holders to carry out layering and integration of proceeds of crime. The network was found to have supported high-value fund flows through coordinated mules and money transfer agents and high-speed money movement was carried out using Fintech infrastructure. 
Digital devices, KYC documents, SIM cards, and WhatsApp communication archives recovered during the searches are being examined to establish end-to-end linkages among domestic facilitators and main conspirators, and to map the modus operandi, financial trails, and communication infrastructure used in the offence.
Earlier, the Agency has  conducted  searches at 19 locations across Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on on May 28 this year and arreste of six key operatives and the dismantling of two illegal call centers engaged in a sophisticated transnational tech support scam targeting Japanese citizens.

(Freelance Journalist)