Bokaro, Jharkhand: Police in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district have busted an interstate cyber fraud racket and arrested nine people accused of operating an organised online scam network. According to investigators, the accused were running the operation from rented accommodations and allegedly impersonated bank officials or representatives of a company called RM Tour and Travels to target victims across multiple states. Using social engineering tactics, they allegedly gained victims’ trust, collected sensitive banking information and transferred money from victims’ accounts into bank accounts controlled by the gang.
Police said preliminary investigations indicate that the racket has links to Bihar, and efforts are underway to identify the masterminds and other members of the wider network. Investigators believe the arrested suspects were local operatives working for a larger interstate cybercrime syndicate.
Registration Begins for FutureCrime Summit 2026, India’s Largest Cybercrime Conference
The arrested accused have been identified as Samrat Kumar Vinay, Niranja Kumar, Sudama Kumar, Nitish Kumar, Subodh Kumar, Premchand Kumar, Dharmaraj Kumar, Brijesh Kumar, and Ravi Prabhakar. Samrat Kumar Vinay is a resident of Bokaro Sector-3, while the remaining accused are from different districts of Bihar. Police are also verifying their criminal backgrounds to determine whether they were involved in previous cyber fraud cases.
During the operation, police recovered ₹43,100 in cash, 18 bank passbooks, three cheque books, 10 debit cards, nine SIM cards and 10 mobile phones from the accused. Authorities have also frozen several bank accounts allegedly used to receive the defrauded money. Investigators are analysing banking transactions to determine the total amount siphoned off and identify victims across different states.
According to police, the accused contacted potential victims over phone calls while posing as bank employees or representatives of a travel company. They allegedly used pretexts such as KYC updates, account verification, reward schemes, promotional offers and other false claims to obtain confidential banking information. Once the required details were obtained, money was transferred from victims’ accounts into bank accounts controlled by the syndicate.
Police have sent the seized mobile phones, banking documents and other digital evidence for forensic examination. The investigation aims to identify the complete cybercrime network, trace the bank accounts and mobile numbers used in the operation, establish digital identities and uncover additional beneficiaries. Investigators are also examining the role of the owner of the rented premises from where the gang allegedly operated. Legal action may be initiated if any negligence or complicity is established during the investigation.
According to experts at the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), cybercriminals are increasingly relying on social engineering rather than sophisticated hacking techniques. Impersonating bank officials, insurance representatives, travel agents or trusted organisations has become one of the most common methods used to deceive victims into revealing sensitive financial information. The experts advise people never to disclose their bank account details, debit card information, CVV, OTPs or internet banking credentials during unsolicited calls.
FCRF experts further recommend independently verifying the identity of anyone claiming to represent a bank or other institution by contacting the organisation through its official customer support channels. Promptly informing the bank and reporting suspicious calls, messages or unauthorised financial transactions can significantly reduce potential losses and help investigators respond more effectively.
Police are continuing to interrogate the arrested accused while coordinating with law enforcement agencies in Bihar and other states to identify the remaining members of the network. Investigators believe that forensic analysis of the seized digital evidence will provide crucial leads regarding the syndicate’s financial operations, additional accomplices and the full extent of the interstate cyber fraud racket.
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.
