Jharsuguda Police on Tuesday successfully busted a major inter-state cyber fraud racket, arresting 12 individuals, including two minors, in a coordinated and intensive crackdown. The operation comes amid a surge in digital fraud cases in the region, prompting law enforcement agencies to intensify surveillance and launch targeted action against organised cybercrime clusters.
During the raid, police recovered a substantial amount of incriminating material, including 61 bank passbooks, 41 ATM cards, 90 mobile phones, a car and a scooter allegedly used in the fraudulent activities. The sheer volume of seized items indicates that the racket was operating at a large scale and had been active for a considerable period.
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Network Spread Across Multiple States
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the cybercrime network had strong inter-state links extending from Jharsuguda to Jamtara in Jharkhand, besides Bihar and Rajasthan. These regions are already known for high cybercrime activity, making the investigation more complex and multi-layered.
Local agents based in Jharsuguda were reportedly handling key operational functions, from coordinating fraudulent transactions to managing bank accounts opened for laundering illicit funds. Their role included remote supervision of different modules of the racket, enabling the network to function seamlessly across state boundaries.
Modus Operandi: Bank Accounts Created Through Online Gaming Trap
According to the police, the gang used a well-crafted strategy to trap innocent individuals by offering attractive returns through online gaming schemes. People were promised quick earnings and were persuaded to open bank accounts in their names.
Once these accounts were created, they were taken over by members of the racket and used as channels to route and launder proceeds generated from cyber fraud. The layered movement of money made it difficult for authorities to trace the source or the final destination of the funds, strengthening the network’s concealment mechanisms.
The involvement of multiple accounts across states allowed the gang to create a complex financial trail, which the police are now meticulously tracking.
More Arrests Expected as Probe Expands
Jharsuguda SP confirmed that the investigation is far from over and more arrests are likely as the probe progresses.
He stated:
“We have seized 61 bank passbooks, 41 ATM cards and 90 mobile phones. Additionally, a car and a scooter have been recovered. The 12 accused, including two minors, have been produced before the court.”
The SP added that the magnitude of the operation suggests a wider network with multiple layers of handlers, coordinators and money-movers. The police are currently analysing mobile data, transaction trails and communication networks to trace additional suspects linked to the racket.
Growing Digital Fraud Calls for Stronger Monitoring
The incident underscores the rising threat of organised cybercrime in smaller cities and towns, where fraudsters are increasingly exploiting local populations by offering easy returns and financial incentives.
Experts emphasise the need for:
- Greater digital awareness in rural and semi-urban regions
- Public education on risks of sharing bank documents or opening accounts for others
- Strengthened inter-state coordination among cybercrime units
- Enhanced monitoring of suspicious banking activity
The Jharsuguda crackdown marks a significant breakthrough and is expected to aid further investigations into widespread cybercrime operations linked across multiple states.
