2 weeks ago
Thane police bust Cambodia-based cyber fraud syndicate; eight booked
The police in a place called Thane found out about a group of people who trick others on the internet.
This group was based in a country called Cambodia, which is very far from India.
They promised seven men from Mumbra good jobs in other countries.
But instead of real jobs, the men were taken to a building in Kampot, Cambodia, where they had to help trick other people in India.
The tricksters made fake Facebook accounts to scam people and steal their money.
They stole a lot of money between October 2025 and February 2026.
A man named Mohammad Arafat Shaikh is blamed for taking the men there, and the police have registered a case against him and seven others.
The police are now trying to find everyone involved and follow the stolen money.
Just like police stop thieves, these internet tricksters are now in trouble with the law.
Police busted a cyber fraud syndicate operating out of Cambodia that lured seven men from Thane district with promises of overseas jobs.
A case was registered under sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) and 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against main accused Mohammad Arafat Shaikh and seven others.
The seven men, all residents of Mumbra, allegedly worked at a cyber scam hub in Kampot, Cambodia, managed by Kevin Hech, Motilal Mandal and a man called "Anna" from Bengaluru.
The accused ran online scams and gaming frauds targeting Indians through fake Facebook accounts, siphoning off substantial sums between October 2025 and February 2026.
Police are working to dismantle the network, trace financial transactions linked to the scam centre's owners, and locate additional suspects.
- Who
- Police in Thane district, main accused Mohammad Arafat Shaikh and seven other booked individuals, and seven men from Mumbra who were lured.
- What
- The busting of a Cambodia-based cyber fraud syndicate that lured men with fake overseas job promises and used them to run online scams targeting Indians.
- Where
- Thane district, Maharashtra, India, and a cyber scam hub in Kampot, Cambodia.
- When
- Case registered on Thursday; police officials said on Friday, August 14; the scams occurred between October 2025 and February 2026.
- Why
- The syndicate siphoned off substantial sums of money from Indians through online scams and gaming frauds using fake Facebook accounts.
Key facts
- Case registered
- Thursday, by Mumbra police
- Accused booked
- 8 (Mohammad Arafat Shaikh and 7 others)
- Legal sections
- 316(2) criminal breach of trust, 318(4) cheating under BNS
- Scam hub location
- Kampot, Cambodia
- Lured victims
- 7 men, all residents of Mumbra, Thane
- Scam period
- October 2025 to February 2026
- Methods used
- Fake Facebook accounts, online scams, gaming frauds
- Hub managers
- Kevin Hech, Motilal Mandal, and "Anna" from Bengaluru





