MUMBAI: Police have revealed a sophisticated cross-border fraud network, in Mumbai and have arrested four individuals for allegedly transmitting sensitive Indian bank data to Dubai. The operation, conducted near Mumbai Airport, is part of a broader investigation into a growing nexus between local cybercriminals and international money-laundering syndicates.
A Raid Near the Airport Uncovers a Hidden Network
The operation began when police received a tip-off about suspicious activity at the Hotel Gateway Star near Mumbai Airport. Acting swiftly, a team led by PSI Sagar Jadhav and Constable Kiran Kore raided the premises on the morning of November 4, 2025.
Among those detained was Mohammad Masood Abdul Wasim, a 25-year-old resident of Bengaluru, who is believed to be a key intermediary between local data brokers and overseas handlers. Three others — Abdullah Lare Ahmed Shaikh (24), Noor Alam Ashiq Ali Khan (42), and Manish Kotesh Nandala (30) — were later arrested following coordinated raids at Sai Guest House in Sakinaka.
Police say Wasim had been coordinating with two Dubai-based suspects, identified as Mohsin and Zafar, who allegedly directed the transfer of stolen banking data to the United Arab Emirates for use in online financial scams.
Digital Evidence and Devices Point to International Coordination
Investigators uncovered a trove of evidence from Wasim’s mobile phone, including WhatsApp messages, call logs, and social media chats that pointed to regular contact with the Dubai-based operatives. A UAE identity card, several passports, and seven SIM cards were found in his possession.
During interrogation, Wasim reportedly confessed to sourcing confidential banking details through a network of associates spread across Mumbai’s suburbs — including Kurla, Virar, and Dombivli. His accomplices allegedly procured account details, cheque books, debit cards, and SIM cards, which were then dispatched to Dubai for use in high-value cyber frauds.
Police said the stolen data was instrumental in carrying out fraudulent transactions across multiple digital platforms, part of a larger ecosystem of financial deception that spanned national borders.
The Expanding Web of Suspects and Operations Abroad
The investigation has so far identified eight suspects, including two Indian-origin individuals based in Dubai. Two men — Abdul Khalik Abdul Qadir Khan (31) and Arbaaz Fazlani — remain at large, while Mohsin and Zafar, the alleged Dubai-based masterminds, are under international scrutiny.
Authorities believe the operation functioned as a coordinated data funnel: Indian operatives collected sensitive information from compromised accounts, while their overseas counterparts handled the monetization through online fraud and laundering channels. Police sources described the network as “well-organised and transnational,” highlighting how easily financial data from Indian citizens could be exported and weaponized abroad.
Legal Action and Broader Concerns
The arrested individuals have been booked under Sections 318(4) (fraud) and 34 (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. Forensic analysis of seized devices is ongoing, and investigators are reportedly coordinating with cybercrime units in Dubai through diplomatic channels. Senior officials say the case underscores a deeper concern: that India’s rapidly digitizing financial ecosystem is increasingly being targeted by global cybercriminals who exploit data vulnerabilities and offshore networks.
