Patna: The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) and the Patna Cyber Police Station have successfully dismantled a major cyber fraud operation, arresting seven individuals involved in providing bank accounts used for large-scale online financial crime.
The arrests were made following a targeted raid on a hotel in the Saguna Mor area, acting on intelligence received by the EOU regarding individuals allegedly plotting cybercrime. A special team, operating under the directives of the Superintendent of Cyber Investigation and Operations, swiftly moved to apprehend the suspects.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Amit Kumar (Bettiah), Durgesh Kumar (Chhapra), Ravi Prakash (Motihari), Mohammad Rahbar (Bhojpur), Anil Singh (Brahmapura, Buxar), Vishal Kumar, and Bhaskar Kumar (both from Ara).
How the Racket Operated
Initial investigation has shed light on the gang’s modus operandi, which centered on exploiting vulnerable citizens and circumventing banking protocols.
The criminals targeted individuals in urgent need of money, gaining control of their bank accounts by luring them with false promises, such as processing GST refunds or disbursing CSR funds. Once control was established, these accounts became conduits for transferring illicit funds stolen by other cybercriminals.
The racket’s sophistication extended to banking ties; during interrogation, the accused admitted to operating on a commission basis, charging between 5 to 15 percent of every fraudulent transaction. It was further revealed that they colluded with certain bank employees to open current accounts in the names of small village traders, specifically to facilitate the large-volume transfers involved in the fraud.
Over Rs 10 Crore Transferred
The magnitude of the operation is becoming clear as the investigation progresses. So far, the EOU has identified 15 bank accounts connected to this gang, against which numerous complaints have been lodged across the country. Alarmingly, a single account was found to have been linked to 98 separate cases of financial fraud.
Collectively, more than Rs 10 crore in fraudulent funds have been transferred through these flagged accounts.
Following the bust, the Economic Offences Unit issued a strong appeal to the public to exercise extreme caution. They urged people not to share their bank account details, SIM card information, or any personal financial data in response to offers of refunds or funds. The EOU advised the public to immediately report any such suspicious offers to the cyber helpline 1930 or utilize the national cyber portal.
