Jharkhand Police have arrested nine alleged cyber fraudsters during a coordinated crackdown on a suspected cybercrime network operating in Jamtara district. According to investigators, the accused allegedly targeted victims through fake cashback offers, impersonation of bank officials and other online fraud schemes. During the operation, police seized 27 mobile phones, 39 SIM cards and one tablet, all suspected to have been used in cybercrime activities.
Police said the raids were carried out by a special team in two separate villages. Five suspects were arrested from Mattand village under the Karmatanr Police Station limits, while four others were apprehended from Posoi village under the Jamtara Town Police Station jurisdiction.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mujahid Ansari (24), Salamat Ansari (27), Samnar Ansari (33), Tabarak Ansari (25), and Sarfaraz Ansari (30), all residents of Mattand village, along with Roki Kumar Das (23), Arjun Das (37), Sachin Das (23) of Posoi village, and Amrit Ruidas (24) of Daspara, Barakar, West Bengal.
According to the preliminary investigation, the accused allegedly lured victims with fake cashback schemes and impersonated bank officials to obtain confidential banking information. Investigators believe the stolen credentials were then used to carry out fraudulent transactions from victims’ bank accounts. The seized electronic devices and SIM cards are being subjected to forensic examination to identify additional victims and determine the full extent of the network.
Police said that one of the arrested suspects, Mujahid Ansari, had previously been named in cybercrime cases registered in 2020 and 2024. Investigators are also examining whether the gang maintained links with cybercrime syndicates operating in other states.
Authorities are analysing data recovered from the seized mobile phones, SIM cards and other digital devices. Financial transactions, call records, digital payment trails and online communications are also being scrutinised to uncover the broader conspiracy and identify other individuals involved.
Police have urged the public not to trust unsolicited calls, fake cashback offers or individuals claiming to be bank officials without proper verification. Citizens have also been advised never to share confidential banking information such as OTPs, CVV numbers, ATM PINs or other sensitive credentials with anyone.
Cybercrime experts associated with the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) note that fake cashback scams and bank impersonation frauds are common forms of social engineering attacks. They say forensic examination of digital devices, call detail records, banking trails and SIM card usage plays a critical role in identifying organised cybercrime networks. The experts add that stronger digital awareness, multi-layered banking security measures and prompt reporting of suspicious activities are essential to preventing such cyber frauds.
