The cybercrime unit of the city police has apprehended 17 individuals nationwide in connection with a significant digital arrest fraud case. Among those detained, four are Taiwanese nationals captured in Delhi and Bangalore, with two arrests made in each city.
In one instance, a gang detained a senior citizen for 10 days through “digital arrest,” monitoring him via video calls while extorting ₹79.34 lakhs under the guise of resolving a fictitious “RBI issue,” as reported by Joint Commissioner (Crime) Sharad Singhal. The victim had reported that impersonators from TRAI, CBI, and the cybercrime division accused him of participating in illegal transactions.
Following the complaint, police launched raids across Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Odisha, and Maharashtra, leading to the arrests of 17 suspects, including the four Taiwanese individuals. The Taiwanese suspects—Mu Chi Sung (42), Chang Hu Yun (33), Wang Chun Wei (26), and Shen Wei (35)—had been in India for a year, offering technical assistance and mobile apps to facilitate money transfers.
The app developed by the Taiwanese nationals enabled the gang to funnel funds through bank accounts and crypto wallets in Dubai, receiving commissions via hawala. The operation was conducted from call centers designed to mimic legitimate government offices for video calls.
Authorities recovered ₹12.75 lakh in cash, 761 SIM cards, 120 mobile phones, 96 cheque books, 92 debit and credit cards, and 42 bank passbooks linked to accounts used for illicit transactions.
During a press briefing, Sharad Singhal, SP Cyber Crime, indicated that 450 complaints connected to this gang have been recorded thus far, with more expected to surface. The complaints span multiple states, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Maharashtra, highlighting the national reach of such gangs. Raids were executed at eight locations housing these fraudulent call centers.
Two suspects were arrested in Delhi, and two in Bangalore. They frequently traveled in and out of India; one had graduated from Himachal Pradesh and remained longer, while the others would visit to establish fraud operations before departing. Call centers were located in Vadodara, Mumbai, Bangalore, and other cities.
In this cyber fraud scheme involving digital arrests, criminals impersonate law enforcement officers, employing tactics like setting up fake police stations and donning official uniforms. They contact victims, alleging that their phones are linked to criminal activities and demanding fees to verify their innocence. Most victims are senior citizens, who are intimidated during video calls, leading them to transfer large sums to multiple accounts tied to the cybercriminals.
