New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested three accused and conducted searches across six states in connection with a Rs 1.86 crore “Digital Arrest” cyber fraud case.
The case involves the alleged cheating of a senior citizen from Kottayam district in Kerala. Investigators traced a complex network operating across multiple states, with possible international links, the CBI said in a press release.
According to officials, the CBI carried out coordinated search and arrest operations on Wednesday. The crackdown targeted mule bank account networks and fraudulently procured SIM cards used in cyber fraud operations.
Searches were conducted in Goa, Bengaluru, Palakkad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, and Delhi. During the raids, the agency seized digital devices, debit cards, bank documents, and other incriminating materials. The seized items are under forensic examination.
A mule account operator was arrested at a hotel in Goa. He is suspected of managing mule accounts and facilitating cryptocurrency transactions linked to the fraud. Several digital devices were recovered from him.
In Nagpur, a shell company operator was arrested for allegedly managing mule accounts through a front company. Officials recovered multiple debit cards and digital devices from his premises.
Another accused was arrested in Bengaluru for procuring SIM cards through fraudulent means. He allegedly misused KYC documents of unsuspecting individuals by offering fake 5G SIM upgrades. The activated SIM cards were later used in cyber fraud operations believed to have links abroad.
The CBI said the investigation is ongoing. Efforts are underway to identify other domestic and international collaborators. The agency described the operation as a major step toward dismantling the infrastructure behind “Digital Arrest” scams.
