New Delhi: In one of the largest coordinated cybercrime crackdowns in India’s history, the Delhi Police Cyber Unit has traced suspicious transactions worth ₹944 crore during a 48-hour nationwide operation that dismantled the financial infrastructure sustaining organised digital fraud.
The mission, codenamed “Operation CyHawk,” was conducted from December 10, spanning 10 states and involving over 5,000 police officers and cyber investigators. Unlike conventional crackdowns focused on scam call centres or individual fraudsters, the operation directly targeted the financial bloodstream of cybercrime — mule bank accounts, cash handlers, SIM networks and digital intermediaries that enable large-scale fraud.
4,058 Cyber Complaints Formed the Blueprint
Officials said the operation was driven by data-led intelligence, analysing 4,058 cyber fraud complaints registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
Advanced analytics were used to map:
- Repeated transaction patterns
- High-velocity money movement
- Common beneficiary accounts
- Recurring intermediaries
This analysis revealed a complex but structured ecosystem designed to rapidly circulate and conceal stolen money.
“The focus was not on the visible scammer, but on the invisible money network that keeps cybercrime alive,” a senior Delhi Police officer said.
Simultaneous Raids Across 10 States
Operation CyHawk involved synchronised raids across:
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.
Teams targeted:
- Mule account operators
- Cash collection points
- SIM card distributors
- Digital payment facilitators
- Virtual number service providers
Several accounts were found processing hundreds of suspicious transactions daily, with links extending to foreign cryptocurrency wallets and offshore channels.
How ₹944 Crore Was Traced
Using AI-based transaction analysis, banking intelligence inputs and fintech data, investigators traced ₹944 crore flowing through layered accounts.
Key findings include:
- Extensive use of mule accounts opened in the names of students, labourers and rural residents
- Rapid layering of funds across multiple accounts
- Conversion of proceeds into cryptocurrency to evade detection
- Links to foreign cyber syndicates operating from Southeast Asia and beyond
A senior officer said, “Cybercrime today is not random. It is industrial-scale financial crime.”
SIM Networks and Digital Intermediaries Under Scanner
The operation also exposed serious irregularities in:
- SIM card issuance networks
- Virtual number servers
- Third-party digital payment agents
Thousands of suspicious SIM cards were seized, many allegedly used to bypass KYC norms and operate fraud campaigns anonymously. Several payment facilitators are now under regulatory and criminal scrutiny.
Towards a Permanent National Anti-Fraud Framework
Following the success of Operation CyHawk, authorities are planning to institutionalise the model. Proposals include the creation of a Financial Data Fusion Centre, enabling real-time coordination between:
- Banks
- Fintech firms
- Payment wallets
- Telecom operators
- Law enforcement agencies
Officials described the operation as a strategic shift from reactive policing to financial disruption.
“Cyber fraud is no longer just a technological offence. It is economic warfare. And this operation struck at its financial nerve,” a senior official said.
