Mangaluru, Nov 17: In a major breakthrough in the battle against digital financial crimes, the Cyber, Economic and Narcotic Crime (CEN) Police Station in Mangaluru has arrested two men from Northeast India for allegedly impersonating Customs officials and cheating a local resident of ₹7.27 lakh. Investigations have revealed that one of the suspects operated an extensive fraud infrastructure involving over 300 bank accounts and 250 SIM cards, enabling him to launder money while concealing his identity.
Police identified the arrested accused as Demonjoy Riang (27), a resident of Dhali in Tripura, and Hmangte Ryal Kom alias Mangte Amosh (33) of Kangpokpi, Manipur. The case against them was originally registered in 2024, and both had been absconding since then.
Arrested in Bengaluru After Technical Surveillance
- According to officials, the arrests were made following sustained surveillance and technical analysis in Bengaluru.
- Riang was taken into custody on November 13,
- while Kom—believed to be the operator of hundreds of bank accounts and SIM cards—was arrested on November 15.
Both men were produced before a local magistrate and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Police suspect that the duo is part of a larger, well-organised cyber-fraud syndicate operating across multiple states.
Massive Haul: Phones, Bank Passbooks, SIM Cards Seized
During coordinated raids, police recovered a significant number of digital and financial documents from Kom, including:
- 8 mobile phones
- 20 debit cards
- 18 bank passbooks
- 7 mobile SIM cards
Officers said these documents were crucial to the suspects’ operations. Many of the accounts functioned as “mule accounts”, where money swindled from victims was quickly routed and withdrawn to erase trails.
Fraudsters Posed as Customs Officers to Extort Money
The investigation revealed that the accused targeted victims by calling them and posing as Customs Department officials. They falsely claimed that the victim’s name was linked to a foreign parcel containing “illegal materials” or suspicious items. Under the pretext of avoiding arrest or legal action, they coerced victims into paying hefty “penalties” through online transfers.
Cybercrime experts note that impersonation scams—especially those involving enforcement agencies—have surged in recent years. Such networks often use digital masking tools, layered bank accounts, and disposable SIM cards to evade detection for long periods.
Police Expanding Probe; More Arrests Likely
The Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate described the arrests as a significant step in dismantling a growing cybercrime ecosystem. Investigators are currently analysing:
- Bank transactions
- Mobile chat histories
- Call logs
- Communication patterns
- Potential links to other fraud modules
A senior official said, “Our aim is not just to arrest the individuals but to take down the entire network operating behind them. Further arrests are highly likely.”
Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious of unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be from Customs, Police, or other government agencies, and to immediately report suspicious interactions.
