Buxar: In a major blow to organised cybercrime, Buxar Police have busted a well-structured inter-state cyber fraud syndicate operating from a rented house in Bihar and arrested 18 accused. Officials describe it as one of the biggest cyber enforcement operations in the region in recent years.
Acting on a credible tip-off, teams from the Nagar Police Station and the Cyber Cell raided a secret hideout located behind the ICICI Bank building on PP Road, turning what appeared to be a residential den into a crime scene loaded with digital evidence.
Initial investigation suggests the gang was using Bihar as a low-risk operational hub while siphoning money from unsuspecting victims across India through fake digital banking assistance, UPI/OTP frauds and illegal online betting.
A Fraud Call Centre in Disguise
Police officials revealed that the setup operated much like a fake call centre, where fraudsters posed as:
- Bank officials
- Digital wallet or payment app representatives
- Gaming/betting platform executives
- Customer support agents
They lured victims into sharing their OTPs, UPI PINs, and banking credentials under the pretext of KYC updates, reward points, cashback offers, or account re-verification.
The raid led to the recovery of: 64 mobile phones, 5 laptops, 25 SIM cards, 82 ATM cards, 9 bank passbooks, 13 registers filled with victims’ data, 2 Wi-Fi routers and other gadgets. The registers contain hundreds of phone numbers and bank account details, indicating that many more victims are yet to surface.
Accused Linked to Multiple States
The arrested individuals belong to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, several of whom are repeat offenders in cyber fraud cases. Officials believe the arrests may reveal deeper involvement of fund suppliers, SIM card providers and money mules operating across state lines.
“This is a well-oiled network. The accused used Bihar as their safe base while targeting victims nationwide,” a senior investigator said.
Police have withheld the full identities of the accused pending further verification and combined investigations with other state agencies.
Digital Surveillance and Tactical Strike
The operation was led by DySP and Cyber Police Station In-charge, who confirmed that the crackdown was the result of:- Mobile location tracing, Analysis of suspicious transaction trails, Interception of coordinated calls, Support from cyber forensic intelligence. The raid was executed as a surprise tactical strike, preventing any evidence destruction.
Police Chief’s Statement: “This is just the beginning”
Buxar Superintendent of Police stated:
“We have dismantled a significant cyber crime module today.
Detailed forensic analysis will uncover the full extent of their reach and past crimes.
More arrests could follow soon.”
Their Modus Operandi — A Digital Trap
The gang followed a standard but dangerous pattern:
- Trigger fear — “Your bank account may be blocked”
- Send harmful links to gain phone access
- Coax users to reveal OTPs/UPI PINs
- Drain accounts instantly using online payment gateways
- Funnel money through multiple mule accounts to evade tracking
More Victims Expected to Come Forward
Digital evidence seized during the raid is being analysed to:
- Map inter-state connections
- Identify offshore betting apps and servers
- Track money flow and financial instruments
- Connect the syndicate with existing FIRs nationwide
Authorities expect that several cyber fraud complaints registered across India may now be linked to this racket.
Cyber Advisory Don’t Be the Next Victim
- Never click unknown links
- Do not share OTP/UPI PIN under any circumstance
- Banks or RBI officials never ask for confidential details
- Report suspicious cyber activity to National Helpline — 1930
