Dubai-linked Rs 250 crore cyber fraud busted, MBA student among 19 arrested
A Gujarat Police cybercrime investigation has uncovered a Dubai-linked fraud network that allegedly siphoned off a collective amount of over Rs 250 crore through online
A Gujarat Police cybercrime investigation has uncovered a Dubai-linked fraud network that allegedly siphoned off a collective amount of over Rs 250 crore through online scams, leading to the arrest of 19 accused from five cities, including an MBA student from a private university. Investigators said the accused are linked to 146 cybercrime cases registered across 21 states, exposing the scale of an organised interstate racket. Read Full Story The breakthrough came during "Operation Mule Hunt 2.0," carried out by the Gandhinagar-based Cyber Center of Excellence. The operation focused on five major cyber fraud cases registered in Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Surat, Patan and Gandhinagar. According to investigators, the syndicate operated through a network spanning Gujarat and Dubai, using multiple bank accounts to channel proceeds generated through online fraud.
Superintendent of Police Dr Rajdeep Singh Jhala said the accused worked together to provide corporate bank accounts in exchange for commissions, enabling the movement of money generated through cybercrime. "The accused colluded and, lured by commissions, provided corporate bank accounts used for cybercrime; they committed these crimes in collusion with each other for financial gain," he said. The investigation found that the group relied on fake and rented bank accounts to route illicit funds and used bulk banking facilities to transfer large amounts simultaneously. Victims were allegedly duped into downloading APK files and other applications or enticed with fake investment, trading, deposit and UPI-related schemes. Police said the network was coordinated from offices in Surat's Mota Varachha and Jahangirpura, while several operatives managed activities from Dubai.
Authorities arrested six accused from Mehsana and Gandhinagar, while another key suspect, described as the main handler of one of the accounts, was also taken into custody. Investigators said transactions exceeding Rs 161 crore were traced through a single accused's bank account. In a separate leg of the operation linked to the Vadodara case, four accused were arrested. Police said they are connected to more than 101 cybercrime cases registered across the country, with alleged fraud amounting to over Rs 46 crore. Investigators also found that one of the accused is wanted in a murder case. Among those arrested is an MBA student from a private university in Vadodara.
Police alleged that during his studies, he opened more than 10 bank accounts in the names of fellow students and acquaintances and used them to facilitate cyber fraud worth over Rs 7.40 crore. Investigators said 28 complaints have been registered against him nationwide. The Cyber Center of Excellence has launched further investigations to identify additional beneficiaries, financial trails and overseas links connected to the racket. Ends
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