Cyber police in Jharkhand’s Giridih district have busted a high-tech fraud ring allegedly operating from forest areas, arresting six suspects who were accused of sending fake APK links to hack mobile phones and siphon money from victims’ bank accounts.
Forest Hideout Used as Control Room
Acting on a tip-off received by Giridih Superintendent of Police Dr. Bimal Kumar, the Cyber Police Station uncovered what officials described as a high-tech “forest control room” operating in the Charanbari and Kothahariya forests under the Bengabad police station area.
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Police said the accused were using dense forest areas as a hideout to remain away from populated locations, monitor police movement remotely and use network signals to carry out fraud without attracting attention. The arrested accused have been identified as Mahendra Kumar Mandal, Krishna Kumar Mandal, Ishwar Mandal, Pankaj Kumar Mandal, Ranjit Kumar Mandal and Aditya Kumar Mandal.
Fake APK Links Used to Hack Phones
According to police, the gang’s method involved sending links to fake APK files to people’s mobile phones. Once a victim opened the link, the accused allegedly gained complete access to the person’s mobile device.
Using the hacked phones, the gang reportedly siphoned off money from bank accounts within minutes. Police said the accused were targeting people across the country while operating from the forest.
Devices and Bikes Recovered
Police recovered 11 mobile phones, 13 SIM cards and five bikes from the accused. Officials said the bikes were used to reach forest locations and hide the equipment used for cheating.
Superintendent of Police Dr. Bimal Kumar said many of the arrested accused are history-sheeters who had earlier been jailed by different police stations in Delhi and Giridih. After being released, they allegedly formed a gang again and chose forest areas as their hideout. Police are now investigating the bank accounts and other assets linked to the accused.
