Jaipur. Rajasthan Police’s cybercrime cell has arrested 17 people in connection with a ₹5.30 crore cyber fraud case in which an accountant of Galaxy Mining Pvt Ltd was allegedly duped through a fake WhatsApp message impersonating the company’s chairman. The complaint was filed on April 24 through the cybercrime helpline 1930 after the accountant transferred funds to two bank accounts on the basis of the fraudulent instructions.
Fake Chairman Message Used to Trigger Transfers
DIG Cyber Crime Shantanu Kumar Singh said the complainant received instructions from a WhatsApp number posing as the company’s chairman. Acting on the message, the accountant transferred ₹5.30 crore to two bank accounts.
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After the complaint was registered, police teams began tracing the money trail by analysing multiple bank accounts used in the fraud. The investigation found that the funds were routed through several accounts before being withdrawn in cash or moved further.
Money Routed Through Crypto and Hawala Channels
Investigators found that part of the defrauded amount was laundered through cryptocurrency, including USDT, and hawala channels. Police said the accused either opened or arranged bank accounts to receive the fraud amount and then transferred, withdrew or converted the money in exchange for commissions.
With support from police units in Kota Rural, Pali, Banswara, Jodhpur City and Barmer, teams arrested 17 accused, including bank account holders and intermediaries linked to the transactions.
Low-Paid Workers Lured With Commissions
Police said several arrested individuals were engaged in low-paying jobs, including salon work, small shops and daily wage labour. They were allegedly lured with commissions ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹50,000 for providing or arranging bank accounts.
Others allegedly opened accounts in their own names or in the names of relatives and handed over access to the network. Investigators said gang members frequently met at tea stalls to coordinate operations, exchange bank details, withdraw cash and distribute commissions without attracting attention.
Police said further investigation is underway to trace the wider network and identify additional links in the inter-state cyber fraud operation.
