The Madhya Pradesh State Cyber Police have uncovered a major inter-state cyber fraud network, leading to the arrest of 18 suspects across multiple states. Six of the suspects were apprehended from Hyderabad and Haryana, joining the 12 already detained from Jabalpur, Satna, and Bhopal.
The gang, which operated across several states, is accused of defrauding victims of crores of rupees. Authorities are now investigating potential links to foreign countries, especially after it was revealed that the stolen money was being funneled to Dubai and other Gulf nations, sparking concerns about possible terror funding connections. The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has joined the investigation to assist in uncovering further details.
The suspects used various deceptive tactics to lure victims, including fake gaming apps, social media scams, and fraudulent government schemes. Investigators also discovered that the gang opened fake bank accounts, allegedly with the help of some bank employees, to facilitate the illegal transactions.
Recent arrests included Mohammad Masooq, Chanchal Vishwakarma, Neeraj Yadav, Ramnath Kumar, Govind Kumar, and Sajid Khan. Authorities seized several tools used in the fraudulent operations, including 14 laptops, 40 mobile phones, 79 ATM cards, six bank passbooks, five QR codes, and two chequebooks.
Earlier arrests led to the recovery of Rs15 lakh in cash, along with more than 20 mobile phones, eight laptops, and additional devices. The gang targeted victims by offering false promises of government benefits, fake investments, and by operating fraudulent social media profiles.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the gang’s operations and their potential foreign connections, with the assistance of the Madhya Pradesh ATS. Citizens are urged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to cyber fraud to the police.
