New Delhi: In a major breakthrough against transnational cybercrime, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled a sophisticated cyber fraud network, recovering cryptocurrencies worth Rs 2.8 crore and unaccounted cash of Rs 22 lakh.
The operation was carried out under the agency’s ongoing anti-cybercrime initiative “Operation Chakra-V”, with coordinated raids at three different locations across India. The bust followed credible intelligence about a syndicate that was targeting citizens in the United States and Canada by posing as officials from government agencies and reputed tech support firms.
According to a CBI spokesperson, the gang used advanced social engineering tactics and technological tools to execute their fraud. Seized during the raids were devices used for masking caller identities in international calls, voice recordings of scam calls, lead-generation databases, and other digital infrastructure that formed the backbone of the racket.
The fraudsters were allegedly involved in impersonation scams, tricking victims abroad into parting with sensitive information or transferring money, believing they were dealing with legitimate authorities or tech support.
In a significant move, the CBI also seized Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) — primarily cryptocurrency — worth Rs 2.8 crore, marking a rare confiscation of digital crime proceeds. This is seen as a growing challenge for law enforcement agencies worldwide, as cybercriminals increasingly shift to decentralized and untraceable assets.
The operation underlines the CBI’s increased focus on tackling international cyber fraud and protecting digital financial security.
