The Jharkhand Crime Investigation Department (CID) has exposed a sophisticated cyber fraud network operating with links to China. The network was involved in investment scams and digital arrest schemes, facilitating illegal financial transactions with the involvement of Chinese fraudsters. Cyber DSP Neha Bala shared details on Saturday. Acting swiftly on orders from CID DG Anurag Gupta, the CID team arrested seven individuals. Those apprehended include Kumar Deepak from Siwan, Bihar; Prabhat Kumar; Kumar Saurabh from Nalanda; Shivam Kumar from Nawada; Anil Kumar and Pradeep Kumar from Patna; and Lakhan Chaurasia from Gopalganj, Madhya Pradesh. Recovered from the cybercriminals were 12 mobile phones, 11 SIM cards, 14 ATM cards, and details of 60 bank accounts obtained from WhatsApp and Telegram chats.
DSP Neha Bala explained that the cybercrime police station received a tip on July 4 regarding an organized cyber gang operating from the Olive Garden Hotel in the Jagannathpur police station area. The gang was involved in setting up mule bank accounts (bank accounts used for fraud) and collaborating with Chinese fraudsters. Acting on this information, the CID arrested seven agents at the scene. These agents were involved in supplying mule bank accounts from different parts of the country. Additionally, a special agent working for Chinese companies like Moon Pay, Dragon Pay, Super Pay, and Mango Pay India was also apprehended. A large number of bank account details and digital evidence were recovered from the WhatsApp and Telegram chats of the agents linked to the Chinese network.
The DSP revealed that agents working for the Chinese gang were sent a special application (APK file) via Telegram. The agents installed this application on SIM cards associated with bank accounts. Once installed, the application automatically sent OTPs and alerts related to the bank to Chinese servers. Criminals based in China used this information to gain remote access to the accounts and commit fraud worth crores of rupees, with information from 60 mule bank accounts. The CID has, so far, identified 60 mule bank accounts, linked to 68 complaints registered across India. These bank accounts are associated with investment scams and digital arrest-related complaints registered in various states and available on the NCRP portal. The Jharkhand CID has appealed to the public to be cautious of any unknown links, calls, or investment offers and to report any cybercrime immediately to the helpline number 1930.