New Delhi : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully busted an international cybercrime network operating from India, recovering ₹2.8 crore in cryptocurrencies and ₹22 lakh in unaccounted cash in a decisive enforcement action under its flagship Operation Chakra-V. One accused has been arrested and is set to be produced before the Special CBI Court.
The case, initiated following credible intelligence inputs, revealed a sophisticated syndicate impersonating government officials and tech support agents to defraud individuals across the United States and Canada. With targeted social engineering, they convinced unsuspecting victims to part with large sums of money.
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Masked Calls, Fake Tech Support, and Social Engineering Tactics
CBI investigations uncovered that the accused were using international call masking tools, spoofed identities, and elaborate lead-generation mechanisms to contact and mislead victims. The criminals posed as representatives of government agencies or reputed tech support firms, often scaring victims into thinking their bank accounts or digital devices had been compromised.
The agency’s searches across three locations led to the seizure of:
- Voice recordings of fraudulent calls
- Scripts and communication templates
- Tech equipment used for caller ID spoofing
- Digital infrastructure supporting the scam
- Cryptocurrency wallets storing proceeds of crime
This points to a well-organized fraud ecosystem, rooted in India but extending its reach across international borders.
₹2.8 Crore in Crypto Seized: CBI’s Growing Digital Forensics Capabilities
In a notable achievement, the CBI successfully seized Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) worth ₹2.8 crore, believed to be proceeds of crime. The operation also led to the recovery of ₹22 lakh in cash, strengthening the financial trail against the accused.
The agency stated that it has now developed in-house capabilities for identifying, handling, and securing cryptocurrencies during its investigations. These systems are aligned with legal frameworks and reflect the CBI’s technology-driven approach to modern financial crimes.
This comes as part of the CBI’s broader mission to equip its officers with cybercrime detection and VDA seizure protocols, making it one of India’s foremost enforcement bodies capable of managing such digital threats.
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Operation Chakra-V: CBI’s Strategic Push Against Cross-Border Cybercrime
Launched to combat cyber-enabled financial crimes, Operation Chakra-V has become a pillar in India’s fight against sophisticated digital frauds. By collaborating with domestic and international partners and acting on data-driven intelligence, the CBI has systematically targeted online scam rings affecting Indian citizens and foreign nationals alike.
This latest operation reflects the agency’s firm resolve to protect global digital financial ecosystems. It also showcases how cybercriminals are increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies and masked communications to evade traditional law enforcement techniques.
“The CBI remains committed to dismantling such fraud networks with evidence-based investigation and prosecution,” an official said. “This is just one among many crackdowns planned under Chakra-V.”