TGCSB arrests 101 in multi-state cybercrime crackdown, traces Rs 17 crore

The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has arrested 101 people, including 18 women, and traced fraudulent transactions worth Rs 17 crore in a two-week multi-state crackdown on cybercrime networks across South India, officials said on Wednesday.

The operation, which began on September 23, covered Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Puducherry, TGCSB Director Shikha Goel said in a release.

Six special teams comprising more than 100 personnel were deployed for coordinated field-level action targeting agents and mule account holders allegedly involved in cyber-enabled financial crimes.

The operation was linked to 51 cases registered across the seven TGCSB Cyber Crime Police Stations. Investigators have so far traced 1,172 crime links across the country, including 206 linked to Telangana, Goel said.

"Of the 101 persons arrested, 50 have more than five crime links across India, highlighting the extensive network of cybercrime identified during the operation," she said.

Police seized several mobile phones, SIM cards, bank passbooks and cheque books allegedly used in fraudulent transactions. Transactions worth Rs 17 crore were traced through mule accounts, she said.

The investigation found that cyber fraudsters obtained mule bank accounts through agents and intermediaries and used them to receive, transfer and withdraw illicit funds through methods including ATM withdrawals, bulk transfers and overseas-linked transactions.

Account holders and intermediaries were allegedly paid commissions of up to 5 per cent of the amount transacted through the accounts.

Among those identified were an employee of a non-banking financial company who allegedly facilitated mule accounts for fraudsters for commission and a graduate involved in the money-exchange business who allegedly arranged such accounts.

An ex-serviceman was allegedly linked to six cybercrime cases across the country, while a person holding a Diploma in Film Technology was linked to 26 cases, according to the TGCSB.

A businessman with an M Com degree was found to have 34 cybercrime links, while an e-commerce employee allegedly allowed his bank account to be used for fraudulent transactions in return for commission and was linked to 50 cases.

Investigators also found NGO trust accounts allegedly being misused to receive and transfer cybercrime funds. These accounts were linked to 60 cybercrime cases across the country, Goel said.

The accused came from varied age groups, professions and educational backgrounds. About 82 per cent were aged between 20 and 50 years, while 17 per cent were above 50.

Business and self-employment accounted for the largest occupational group at 23 per cent, followed by private employment at 13 per cent, housewives or homemakers at 10 per cent, drivers and operators at 7 per cent, and sales and marketing workers at 5 per cent.

Educationally, 26 per cent had Intermediate-level education and 24 per cent were graduates or degree holders. Another 16 per cent had secondary education, while 11 per cent were uneducated.

Seven per cent had Diploma or ITI qualifications, 4 per cent had primary education, and 3 per cent each were postgraduates or had professional or other qualifications, including B Tech and nursing.

Further investigation is underway to identify additional crime links, inter-state connections and international networks involved in the operation, Goel said.