The Jharkhand CID has successfully dismantled a significant cybercrime network with connections to China, specializing in investment scams and digital arrest schemes. This network was facilitating illegal financial transactions, as reported by Cyber DSP Neha Bala on Saturday. Following instructions from CID DG Anurag Gupta, the CID team conducted swift action, leading to the arrest of seven individuals. The arrests included Kumar Deepak, Prabhat Kumar, Kumar Saurabh, Shivam Kumar, Anil Kumar, Pradeep Kumar, and Lakhan Chaurasia, who hail from Bihar, Nalanda, Nawada, Patna, and Gopalganj in Madhya Pradesh. Recovered from the cybercriminals were 12 mobile phones, 11 SIM cards, 14 ATM cards, along with details from 60 bank accounts obtained from WhatsApp and Telegram chats. The cybercrime police station received intelligence on July 4th, revealing the presence of a cyber gang at the Olive Garden Hotel in the Jagannathpur police station area. This group was involved in procuring mule bank accounts and collaborating with Chinese fraudsters. The CID quickly responded and arrested seven agents at the scene. These agents were responsible for providing mule bank accounts from various locations across the country. A special agent, employed by Chinese companies like Moon Pay, Dragon Pay, Super Pay, and Mango Pay India, was also apprehended. The WhatsApp and Telegram chats of the arrested agents contained valuable banking information and digital evidence. The DSP also described how agents working for the Chinese gang received a specific application (APK file) through Telegram. These agents installed this application onto the SIM cards linked to bank accounts. Once installed, the application automatically sent bank-related OTPs and alerts to Chinese servers. Criminals based in China then used this information to remotely access the accounts and carry out fraudulent activities, with 60 mule bank accounts identified. The CID has identified a total of 60 mule bank accounts associated with 68 complaints of investment scams and digital arrest schemes across India. These cases are registered on the NCRP portal. The Jharkhand CID advises the public to remain cautious of unfamiliar links, calls, or investment offers, urging them to report any cybercrime incidents to the helpline number 1930 immediately.
