AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Cyber Centre of Excellence of CID Crime has dismantled a sprawling interstate cyber fraud network under 'Operation Mule Hunt 2.0', arresting 19 accused linked to 146 cybercrime cases registered across 21 States.
Investigators said the syndicate routed suspicious financial transactions exceeding Rs 250 crore through fake and rented bank accounts, exposing the scale of a highly organised cybercrime ecosystem, with links extending from Gujarat to Dubai.
The operation cracked five major cyber fraud cases registered in Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Surat, Patan and Gandhinagar. It also uncovered a network that allegedly specialised in providing bank accounts and digital infrastructure to cyber fraudsters operating across the country.
According to investigators, the accused exploited bulk-mode banking facilities to transfer fraud proceeds through multiple fake and rented accounts, making it difficult for agencies to trace the money trail.
Victims were targeted through fake investments, online trading, deposit and UPI frauds. Many others were tricked into downloading malicious APK files that gave fraudsters control over their banking credentials and digital devices.
The probe revealed that key operations were managed from offices in Mota Varachha and Jahangirpura in Surat, while parts of the syndicate were allegedly being controlled by handlers operating from Dubai.
Six accused were arrested from Mehsana and Gandhinagar, while investigators traced more than Rs 161 crore in transactions through the account of one accused, whose alleged principal handler has also been arrested.
The investigation also exposed the criminal backgrounds of several accused.
In one of the Vadodara-linked cases, four accused were found to be connected to 101 cybercrime complaints registered across the country, involving fraud worth over Rs 46 crore.
Police further discovered that one of the accused is also wanted in a murder case, highlighting the nexus between organised cyber crime and other serious criminal activities.
In another significant breakthrough, investigators arrested an MBA student of a private university in Vadodara, who allegedly opened more than 10 bank accounts in the names of fellow students and acquaintances before handing them over to cyber fraud syndicates.
Authorities said these accounts were used to route over Rs 7.40 crore in fraudulent transactions.
The accused is linked to 28 cybercrime complaints registered in different parts of the country.
Explaining the modus operandi, Cyber Centre of Excellence SP Dr Rajdeepsinh Zala said the accused acted as facilitators for organised cybercrime syndicates by procuring corporate and individual bank accounts in exchange for commissions.
"The accused lured account holders with commissions and collected their Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, cheque book photographs, ATM card images and internet banking credentials. They shared the details with the syndicate to verify access to the accounts. To avoid repeated OTP verification, they persuaded account holders to install malicious APK files, allowing the syndicate to operate accounts remotely. These facilitators supplied the banking infrastructure used for large-scale cyber crimes for financial gain," Dr Zala said.
Officials said an investigation is underway to identify additional beneficiaries, trace the international money trail, and uncover the extent of the organised cybercrime network.
Notably, investigators believe the network is operated across multiple States with overseas coordination.