Police have busted a cyber fraud gang allegedly involved in defrauding UCO Bank customers of crores of rupees using 27 mobile SIM cards issued from a shop in Chirakunda. Four accused have been apprehended in the operation, including three adults and one minor. The minor has been sent to a juvenile observation home, while police are searching for nine other suspects allegedly linked to the network.
According to the investigation, members of the gang posed as bank officials and called customers, claiming that their KYC details had not been updated. They allegedly threatened that accounts would be closed or banking services suspended if the customers failed to comply. After creating panic, the fraudsters obtained one-time passwords (OTPs) sent to the victims’ mobile phones and allegedly transferred money through digital wallets.
Police have recovered five smartphones, several SIM cards and a Google Sheet containing mobile numbers and bank account numbers of several UCO Bank customers.
Accused allegedly supplied SIM cards to cybercriminals
The raids were conducted under the leadership of the Nirsa Sub-Divisional Police Officer. The arrested accused have been identified as Prem Ravidas and Binod Ravidas of Tilatoliya in Nirsa, Gulab Ravidas of Kharkhabad in Govindpur, and Ayush Singh of Layakdih in Chirakunda.
Investigators have alleged that Ayush Singh played a key role in supplying SIM cards. He reportedly used his identity documents to obtain SIM cards and then sold them to cybercriminals at higher prices.
Police are now investigating who received the 27 SIM cards issued from the Chirakunda shop and how many fraudulent transactions were carried out using them. Investigators are also examining whether the SIM cards were registered in the names of genuine customers but subsequently handed over to other individuals.
Fraudsters posed as bank officials
The gang allegedly targeted bank customers by pretending to be officials of their bank. During phone calls, victims were told that their KYC information was incomplete or outdated. In some cases, they were allegedly threatened with account closure or interruption of banking services.
Once the victims came under pressure, the fraudsters allegedly asked them to share the OTP received on their mobile phones. After obtaining the OTP, the accused allegedly transferred money through digital wallets.
Police suspect that the gang had access to a database of bank customers and used the information to identify potential victims. Investigators are now trying to determine the source of this data and whether it was obtained through an internal source or another illegal channel.
Google Sheet provides important lead
The recovery of the Google Sheet has emerged as a significant development in the investigation. The document reportedly contains mobile numbers and account numbers belonging to several UCO Bank customers.
Police are examining how the information reached the accused and whether the data was used to select victims. The recovered smartphones and SIM cards are also being subjected to digital examination to identify call records, messages, contacts, transaction details and communication with other members of the suspected network.
Investigators are also tracing the money allegedly obtained through the fraudulent transactions. They are trying to determine which bank accounts and digital wallets received the funds and how the money was subsequently withdrawn or transferred.
Nine more suspects under investigation
Police are searching for nine other people suspected of being connected to the gang. Investigators are attempting to identify the individuals responsible for arranging SIM cards, obtaining customer data and making fraudulent calls.
The investigation is also examining whether the gang operated only in Dhanbad or targeted UCO Bank customers in other districts and states. The number of SIM cards involved and the presence of customer information in a pre-prepared digital file have raised concerns about the scale of the operation.
Police are now analysing the five recovered smartphones, SIM cards and other digital evidence to establish the complete network. The investigation will also focus on the financial trail to determine the total amount allegedly defrauded and identify all beneficiaries.
The recovery of 27 SIM cards, customer banking information and devices allegedly used in the fraud has provided investigators with several leads. Police are now working to identify the remaining members of the suspected network and determine the full extent of the cyber fraud.
