Criminal Investigation in Mumbai: Unmasking a Cyber Fraud Network; Six Suspects Detained over a 1.93 Crore Corporate Scam, Suspect Evidence of Chinese Involvement, and Illegally Held Firearms Recovered
In a significant development, the West Region Cyber Police Station of the Mumbai Crime Branch has successfully busted an inter-state cyber fraud racket that allegedly duped a well-known company of ₹1.93 crore. Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
The accused, identified as Shubham Bajirao Kunjir (Pune), Akshay Gorakh Shelke (Nashik), Ujjwal Raj Avadhesh Kumar Singh (Andheri West, Mumbai), Shubhamkumar Jaypal Singh Pardeshi alias Rajput (Nashik), Aditya Dilip Shinde alias Lucifer (Goa), and Iron Shivpal Mishra alias Sinchan Nohra alias Aaru (33, Lucknow, UP), are believed to have impersonated a company director on WhatsApp to siphon funds from the corporate bank account.
The fraud occurred between April 12 and 15, with a senior employee at the company receiving WhatsApp messages from an unknown number claiming to be the company director. The accused manipulated the employee into transferring ₹1.93 crore to an ICICI Bank account.
During the investigation, the police seized 28 mobile phones, one laptop, 16 SIM cards, multiple chequebooks, debit cards, a pistol, and four live rounds from the accused. Additionally, 13 cheque books and 8 debit cards were seized, and a pistol with 4 live cartridges were recovered from Accused Iron.
The gang's modus operandi included procuring fake SIM cards, opening bank accounts in others' names, collecting banking kits, and stealing internet banking credentials, which they shared with Chinese cyber criminals. Some members of the gang were also involved in converting the siphoned money into cryptocurrency and foreign currency for laundering.
The West Region Cyber Police Station employs advanced cybercrime investigative techniques, forensic analysis, inter-agency coordination, and legal prosecution frameworks to tackle such frauds effectively. The police collected digital and traditional evidence methodically to identify suspects, tracked the digital footprint on WhatsApp and banking systems, analysed transaction logs from corporate bank accounts, and used cyber forensic tools to establish links between impersonators and fraudulent transactions.
The investigation is ongoing to trace international links and additional beneficiaries involved in the racket. The police are also working to identify other cases linked to the seized accounts, as investigations have revealed that 11 cyber crime complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal are suspected to be linked to this case, suggesting the gang had defrauded people of crores of rupees across India.
An FIR was registered under various sections, including the Indian Penal Code Sections 319(2), 318(4), and 238, the Information Technology Act Sections 66C, 66D, and the Arms Act Sections 3, 25. The accused will be prosecuted under the relevant cyber laws and sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to cheating and fraud.
The West Region Cyber Police Station also focuses on preventive measures like educating the public and corporate sector on cyber safety to reduce incidents of impersonation and online fraud. The Cyber Police Station undergoes continuous training in the latest cybercrime investigation techniques, cyber security tools, and practical case studies to stay adept at handling complex cyber frauds.
- The cyber fraud case in India, involving a racket that duped a company of ₹1.93 crore, highlights the intersection of crime and technology in general-news, with the West Region Cyber Police Station employing advanced cybersecurity measures to tackle such intricate crimes.
- The fraud exemplifies the growing problem of cybercrime in India, as the gang employed deceptive methods like impersonating a company director on WhatsApp to commit financial crimes, and even sought assistance from Chinese cyber criminals.
- In an effort to prevent such crimes, the West Region Cyber Police Station engages in educating the public and corporate sector on cyber safety, and its officers undergo continuous training to stay aware of the latest cybersecurity trends and techniques.
- The ongoing investigation aims to uncover international links and additional beneficiaries involved in the racket, and to connect the case with 11 other cyber crime complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, hinting at a vast network of cybercrime and financial fraud across India.
