In one of its largest coordinated cybercrime enforcement drives, the Delhi Police has taken action against more than 6,500 cyber fraudsters during a 48-hour nationwide operation spanning over 10 states. The intelligence-driven crackdown, carried out on February 5 and 6 under Operation Cyhawk 3.0, targeted organised interstate networks involved in investment fraud, job scams, mule accounts and digital facilitation rackets.
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Police officials said the special operation was based on deep data analysis of cybercrime complaints, suspicious financial transactions and digital footprints. Using inputs from national databases and real-time intelligence, investigators identified high-risk bank accounts, mobile numbers, SIM-linked enablers and illegal financial conduits, leading to simultaneous raids across multiple states.
During the two-day operation, legal action was initiated against 2,563 accused, while 299 fresh FIRs were registered. In addition, 262 older cases were reopened and linked to the ongoing investigation. One of the key outcomes of the operation was the consolidation of 3,180 cybercrime complaints received from across the country, involving an estimated financial loss of nearly ₹627 crore to victims.
According to police sources, the geographical spread of the operation ranged from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in the Northeast to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Kerala in the West and South. To ensure simultaneous action, over 5,000 police personnel were deployed at multiple locations. Along with district police units, specialised cyber teams were pressed into service to dismantle the entire fraud chain—from front-end callers and digital lures to backend financial operators and facilitators.
Several major and well-organised fraud syndicates were unearthed during the crackdown. In one case, a gang operating through fake Regional Transport Office (RTO) application links was busted. The accused allegedly duped victims on the pretext of document verification and official approvals. Searches led to the recovery of ₹22 lakh in cash, foreign currency, over 1.8 kg of gold and silver jewellery, along with smartphones and laptops used in the scam.
Another significant breakthrough came with the exposure of an investment fraud network linked to 84 complaints registered on the National Crime Reporting Portal. Preliminary findings revealed that the gang used social media platforms and messaging applications to lure victims with promises of unusually high returns. The funds collected were then routed through a web of mule accounts to evade detection.
Police officials noted that Operation Cyhawk 3.0 marks the third major cyber enforcement drive launched over the past four months. Unlike conventional crackdowns focused on isolated arrests, the operation was designed to strike at the entire cyber fraud ecosystem, including digital facilitators, payment channels, shell accounts and illegal financial support systems that enable large-scale online scams.
Alongside enforcement, authorities also placed strong emphasis on public awareness. Citizens were cautioned against common cyber fraud tactics such as so-called “digital arrest” calls, unsolicited investment offers, fake job proposals and requests from unknown callers to install screen-sharing applications. Police advised the public to immediately disconnect such calls, avoid sharing personal or banking details, and report incidents without delay.
Victims and potential targets were urged to report cybercrime attempts through the 1930 cybercrime helpline or register complaints on the National Crime Reporting Portal to enable swift action and fund-tracing.
Police officials said similar coordinated operations will continue in the coming months, with enhanced real-time intelligence sharing between states. The objective, they stressed, is to stay ahead of rapidly evolving cyber fraud techniques and ensure faster disruption of organised digital crime networks operating across state and national boundaries.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
