Puri | Odisha Police have busted an interstate cyber fraud racket and arrested three accused involved in cheating people under the pretext of business investment opportunities. The gang is suspected to have duped victims of nearly ₹1 crore. The action was carried out under a special drive called “Operation Kavach”, aimed at dismantling cybercrime networks.
The arrested accused have been identified as Ahmed Topan from Tamil Nadu, Abdul Aziz Sheikh from West Bengal, and Sushanta Kumar Parida from Balasore. According to police, the network was active across Odisha, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The accused lured victims by promising high returns through business investment schemes and later siphoned off the money.
Women in Cyber Policing: Nominations Open for Excellence Awards 2026
During investigation, it was revealed that the gang used fake SIM cards and multiple bank accounts with low or no transaction limits to conduct fraudulent activities. Police said more than 80 SIM cards were recovered from the accused, which were allegedly used to contact victims and promote fake investment plans.
Police also disclosed that the fraudsters had opened bank accounts under the name of a fake company called “Speeding Exim”. The name was used to transfer money received from victims into multiple accounts in order to mislead investigators.
During the raid, police seized 15 ATM cards, 15 SIM cards, six mobile phones and seven cheque books from the accused. Officials said the mobile phones and SIM cards are being subjected to forensic analysis to identify other members of the racket.
Investigators believe that several other individuals may also be involved in operating the network. Police are now examining the bank accounts and digital transaction records used to route the fraud proceeds. Officials said the gang had been targeting victims for a long time by offering business opportunities, investment schemes and unusually high profit returns.
Cybercrime experts say such fraud networks use social engineering techniques to easily trap victims. Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said,
“Cybercriminals often lure people by offering quick and unusually high investment returns. If any unknown company promises unrealistic profits, it should be treated as suspicious and verified immediately.”
Police have appealed to the public not to invest money at the request of unknown individuals or companies. People are advised to thoroughly verify any business opportunity offered through social media, phone calls or messages. Sharing confidential information such as bank details, OTPs or other sensitive data should be strictly avoided.
Officials said the use of mule bank accounts and fake SIM cards in cyber fraud cases is increasing rapidly. Therefore, investigation agencies are trying to reach the entire network through technical surveillance and financial trail analysis. Police have expressed confidence that more arrests may follow in the ongoing investigation.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
