In a raid on Wednesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at 10 locations in New Delhi and surrounding areas in connection with its ongoing investigation into transnational, cyber-enabled financial frauds involving Rs 117 crore, officials said. The investigation focuses on large-scale financial scams carried out through digital platforms, targeting numerous individuals across the country.
The raid was conducted after the CBI received a complaint from the Union Home Ministry’s Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). Based on this, the case was registered under Sections 403 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The complaint claimed that organized cybercriminals, including suspected foreign groups, were tricking people through online scams.
Fraudsters, operating from abroad, used platforms like websites, WhatsApp, and Telegram to carry out these scams, the investigation revealed. They lured victims with promises of part-time jobs, task-based rewards, or high returns on their investments.
CBI spokesperson said, “They persuade individuals through part-time job scams, task-based frauds, and promises of high returns on initial investments. Funds deposited by the victims are quickly transferred through a network of 'mule accounts' layered to obscure their origins.”
The investigation further revealed the stolen funds were withdrawn from ATMs abroad or used to top up wallets on fintech platforms like 'Pyypl', using international payment networks that appeared as regular Point of Sale (PoS) transactions.
A review of 3,903 complaints filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) between January 1, 2023, and October 17, 2023, showed that fraudsters had misappropriated about Rs 117 crore. Most of these funds were withdrawn in Dubai and other regions of the UAE.
During searches at 10 locations in Delhi and 2 in Gurugram, the CBI seized electronic devices, financial records, and other evidence from the homes of 10 suspects linked to the crime group. The CBI said it will keep working to identify more people involved and track the movement of the stolen money.
The CBI has also warned the public to be careful when dealing with online offers, especially those that promise quick money or high returns.