Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 19: In a major crackdown, the intelligence wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested seven individuals for allegedly running a highly organised cybercrime syndicate that targeted both foreign nationals and locals, with transactions amounting to several crores.
Officials said that the Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), acting on credible technical inputs about a covert call centre engaged in fraudulent online activities, constituted special teams to track the network.
Following sustained surveillance, digital intelligence gathering, and multi-location verification, investigators identified a key operational hub at Rangreth Industrial Area on the outskirts of Srinagar.
“Seven suspects were apprehended during a raid at the site. A significant quantity of digital and communication equipment was seized, including 13 mobile phones, nine laptops, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) systems, SIM cards, networking devices, and digital storage media,” an official statement said.
A case has been registered against the accused under charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and relevant provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act.
Officials noted that the seized material contains substantial incriminating evidence, pointing to a well-structured and technologically advanced criminal setup.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused were part of a larger, well-coordinated cybercrime network with linkages extending beyond Jammu and Kashmir.
A segment of the syndicate was specifically designed to target victims in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
“They operated using international communication-masking technologies, employing psychological manipulation and impersonation tactics, and laundering money through advanced digital channels, including cryptocurrency,” an official said.
The accused had allegedly established an unregistered, covert call centre infrastructure using VoIP-based systems, enabling them to generate international virtual numbers. By employing server routing and spoofing techniques, they masked their real location and posed as legitimate service providers to unsuspecting victims.
Investigators revealed that international calls were routed through the call centre, while fake YahooMail.com websites and Google advertisements were used to lure victims. The modus operandi involved targeting individuals through organised call campaigns and phishing ads.
“Once a victim clicked on the advertisement, a toll-free number would appear on the screen. This number was operated by the suspects, who then duped victims into sharing their banking and personal details,” the statement said.
The stolen funds were subsequently routed through multiple channels, including mule accounts and cryptocurrency wallets—primarily USDT. The proceeds were layered, converted, and withdrawn to obscure their origin. Notably, no cash transactions were involved, underscoring the entirely digital and sophisticated nature of the operation.
Officials said the transactions detected so far run into several crores, and further investigations are underway to identify additional suspects, trace financial trails, and uncover the wider national and international network. |
