Surat: Local police have apprehended four gang members, including one from Mumbai, suspected of providing 623 bank accounts to cybercriminals in India and abroad, facilitating fraudulent transfers exceeding Rs 111 crore.

Three of the accused were caught transferring funds deposited by cyber fraud victims from one account to another during a raid on an office in Surat, Gujarat, on Tuesday. According to a police release, these bank accounts were used by cybercriminals based in India, Dubai, and China for various scams, including digital arrest, job, task, and investment frauds. The accused allegedly charged a commission for access to these accounts.

Initial investigations suggest the accused are part of a gang linked to over 866 cybercrimes and associated with a Chinese syndicate operating through Dubai. With over 210 FIRs filed nationwide, this gang engaged in a range of cybercrimes, including digital arrest scams, investment fraud, task fraud, job scams, and more. The cybercriminals behind these operations used fake IDs to deceive victims and launder significant sums of money across borders.

In June, Surat police had previously detained eight others involved in providing “mule” bank accounts to cybercriminals. Their interrogation exposed eight additional accomplices, including two based in Dubai, who were also implicated in supplying accounts for money laundering linked to cybercrimes.

Surat Cyber Crime Cell Busts International Racket!

Over 866 crimes linked to this gang, with 210+ FIRs filed.

busting a notorious gang connected to a Chinese gang via Dubai. Operating Nationwide This gang was involved in various cyber crimes, including:

⁃Digital arrest… pic.twitter.com/HPgsMDO0nm

— Harsh Sanghavi (@sanghaviharsh) November 14, 2024

Based on information from these arrests, police raided an office in Surat’s Mota Varachha area, arresting Ajay Italia, Jalpesh Nadiadara, and Vishal Thumar. Another suspect, Hiren Barvalia, was detained at Mumbai International Airport while attempting to fly to Dubai. Four other suspects, including Milan Vaghela and Jagdish Ajudia, are still at large, with Vaghela and Ajudia believed to be in Dubai.

During the Mota Varachha raid, the suspects were actively transferring funds between accounts. After completing the transfers, accomplices in Dubai would withdraw cash using debit cards. The raid also led to the seizure of 28 mobile phones, 198 bank passbooks, 100 debit cards, 35 cheque books, 258 SIM cards, and three computers.

Police found that the gang operated 623 bank accounts, with transactions totaling Rs 111 crore. A diary recovered during the raid revealed that some accounts were obtained from 16 individuals on commission, which was then charged to cybercriminals using the accounts.

NCRP data accessed by Surat police indicated that out of the 623 accounts, complaints were filed against holders of 370 accounts used by fraudsters to receive funds from victims. These accounts are also linked to 200 FIRs nationwide related to cyber fraud, according to the police statement. DeshGujarat