Mangaluru: In a major breakthrough against cross-border cyber crime, the city police have arrested 11 Indian nationals for allegedly running a large-scale online fraud operation from Nepal, targeting victims across India through fake investment schemes and so-called ‘digital arrest’ scams. The crackdown follows a complaint by a Mangaluru resident who reported losing ₹1.38 crore to online fraud.
Investigators said the arrests are linked to a much wider network of cyber fraud, with data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) showing over 4,580 complaints associated with bank accounts used by the accused. The total estimated loss stands at ₹30.7 crore, highlighting the scale and sophistication of the operation.
The arrested accused have been identified as Makavan Vikram (25), Soumyaditya Chattopadhyay (21), Pupla Shiva Kumar Rao (32), Gaurav Pandey (24), Harsh Mishra (22), Rajesh Mandan (30), Mohammed Akeeb Ali (27), Rajeev Ranjan Kumar (30), Mithun Kumar Mangaraj (38), Naushad Ali (34) and Om Prakash Yadav (37). They hail from Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.
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How the fraud network operated
According to the police, members of the gang operated primarily from Nepal and Cambodia, using callers fluent in local Indian languages to gain the trust of victims. Potential targets were contacted through WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram, where they were lured into bogus investment opportunities promising high returns or intimidated using ‘digital arrest’ threats, falsely claiming that law-enforcement agencies were monitoring them.
Once victims transferred money, the funds were rapidly routed through multiple bank accounts to avoid detection. The amounts were then converted into USDT cryptocurrency and transferred to accounts held abroad, making recovery extremely difficult.
In the ₹1.38 crore case that triggered the investigation, the accused used 10 bank accounts. These same accounts were linked to 128 separate complaints, with a combined loss of ₹30.7 crore.
624 bank accounts, massive fund movement
Further investigation revealed that the network made use of 624 bank accounts to move and launder money. In one account alone, police found transactions totalling ₹167 crore, underscoring the industrial scale at which the racket was operating.
Investigators said that when transactions were blocked following police complaints, the accused would quickly distribute part of the proceeds to callers and account holders who facilitated the fraud, while the remaining amount was shared among core members of the group.
Crores siphoned off every day
Police estimates suggest the gang was cheating victims of ₹60 lakh to ₹1 crore every day. Victims were shown fake dashboards, doctored screenshots of profits and professional-looking communication to create an illusion of legitimacy and credibility.
Seizures and ongoing manhunt
During raids, the police seized one laptop, 21 mobile phones, 20 SIM cards and 20 debit and credit cards. The investigation has so far identified 16 Indian nationals as being part of the network. While 11 have been arrested, five accused remain absconding, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend them.
Nepalese authorities have also taken custody of some Chinese nationals suspected to be associates of the Indian accused. Their exact role in the operation is currently under investigation.
Why recovery is difficult
Officials said the rapid conversion of stolen funds into cryptocurrency and their swift transfer abroad significantly hampers recovery efforts. In the ₹1.38 crore fraud case, authorities have so far managed to recover only about ₹7 lakh.
Public advisory
Police have urged citizens to remain vigilant against unsolicited investment offers and threats received through social media or messaging platforms. Victims have been advised to report cyber fraud immediately, as delays allow criminals to move and disguise the money, making recovery far more challenging.
Further investigation is ongoing.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
