Patna. Police in Patna City, Bihar, have busted an alleged international cyber fraud gang and arrested four people accused of targeting foreign nationals.
According to police, the accused allegedly diverted international calls and contacted foreign citizens, claiming that their computers had technical problems or were infected with malware. They allegedly demanded payments in dollars in the name of fixing the computers and removing the malware. Police have recovered laptops, mobile phones, ATM cards, cash and other digital evidence from the accused.
According to police, the gang allegedly approached foreign nationals as potential customers and communicated with them about computer-related problems. The accused allegedly told them that their systems had technical issues or faced malware threats and offered to provide technical assistance. They allegedly collected payments in the name of repairing the computers or removing malware. The money was allegedly received in foreign currency and later converted into Indian rupees.
Proposal for Conducting Cyber Crisis Drill, Tabletop Exercise (TTEx) & CCMP Readiness Exercise
Police received confidential information about the alleged operation and began verification. Following technical investigation, one accused was arrested first. During questioning, police allegedly obtained information about other members of the group. Based on the accused’s alleged disclosures and identification, three more people were arrested. Investigators are now questioning all four to determine how the alleged operation worked and identify others who may have been connected with the network.
The investigation has also led to the recovery of a large amount of digital material. Police seized four laptops and several Android mobile phones from the accused. Seven ATM cards and more than 100,000 email IDs were also recovered. Investigators are examining how the large database of email IDs was allegedly used to identify foreign nationals, establish contact with them and carry out the alleged fraud.
Police also recovered around ₹1.09 lakh in cash from the accused. In addition, approximately ₹3.50 lakh lying in a bank account has been placed on hold. Investigators are examining the bank account and transaction records to trace the movement of the alleged fraud proceeds and determine how the money was received and transferred.
The preliminary investigation indicates that foreign nationals were allegedly the primary targets of the gang. The accused allegedly collected money from them by offering services such as computer repair and malware removal. Police are examining the alleged international call-diversion setup and the large collection of email IDs to determine how the network reached potential victims abroad.
Police are now conducting a technical examination of the seized laptops and mobile phones. Investigators are looking for emails, call records, chats, payment details and other communications with foreign nationals. The ATM cards and bank accounts are also being examined to establish whether they were used to receive or transfer the alleged proceeds of the fraud.
Following the arrest of the four accused, police are investigating the possibility of other members being involved in the alleged network and are tracing its international connections. Further action will be taken based on the findings from the digital devices, financial records and other evidence collected during the investigation.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
