3 weeks ago
Mumbai Crime Branch Busts Goa Cyber Fraud Racket; 12 Arrested
The police in Mumbai found a group of people who tricked others on the internet to take their money.
These tricksters were hiding in a big, fancy house near a beach in Goa.
The police raided the house and arrested 12 people.
The house was used as a school to teach people how to do internet tricks.
They fooled people with fake phone calls and messages asking for money.
The money they collected was sent to a city called Dubai.
The police think about 500 crore rupees went through many bank accounts.
The leader of the group may be hiding in a country called Sri Lanka.
Right now, the arrested people are waiting in police custody while the investigation continues.
Mumbai Crime Branch's Unit-2 raided a luxury 2,000-square-foot villa near Calangute Beach in Goa and arrested 12 accused in a cyber fraud racket.
The accused allegedly carried out digital arrest scams, WhatsApp DP-related frauds, and APK file-based frauds, with proceeds routed to Dubai.
Investigators suspect transactions worth around ₹500 crore were carried out through more than 150 mule bank accounts over the past six months.
The alleged mastermind is believed to be based in Sri Lanka, and police found fraud proceeds were converted into USDT (Tether) cryptocurrency.
Most accused, aged 21-23 from Gujarat, were recruited through the pretext of garment business work and communicated via an app called Rudra.
- Who
- Mumbai Crime Branch's Unit-2, which arrested 12 accused including Mumbai resident Iliyaz Memon and 11 residents of Ahmedabad and Rajkot in Gujarat.
- What
- Busted a Goa-based cyber fraud racket allegedly running digital arrest scams, WhatsApp DP-related frauds, and APK file-based frauds, with about ₹500 crore in transactions under scanner.
- Where
- A luxury 2,000-square-foot villa near Calangute Beach in Goa, with the case originating at Pydhonie Police Station in Mumbai.
- When
- The investigation and raid took place recently; the accused have been remanded in police custody until August 11.
- Why
- The accused allegedly operated a training and operations centre for cyber fraud and routed the proceeds to Dubai via mule bank accounts.
Accused's perspective
Investigators' perspective
Nature of the operation
Accused's perspective
The accused are described only as alleged participants, with police stating they were recruited on the pretext of garment business work and trained by absconding members.
Investigators' perspective
Police say the villa was used as a training and operations centre for cyber fraud, with the accused living a lavish lifestyle on commissions and salaries.
Key facts
- Arrests
- 12 accused
- Raid location
- Luxury villa near Calangute Beach, Goa
- Transactions under scanner
- Approximately ₹500 crore
- Mule bank accounts
- More than 150
- Linked cyber fraud cases
- 83 cases across the country
- Commission and salary
- 3% per transaction plus ₹25,000-₹30,000 monthly salary
- Suspected mastermind location
- Sri Lanka
- Funds destination
- Dubai, converted into USDT (Tether)
Sources
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