CBI-FBI dismantles cybercrime network in Mumbai, Kolkata; mastermind arrested

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has busted a transnational cybercriminal network targeting foreign victims. Simultaneous raids were conducted at seven locations in Mumbai and Kolkata.

The Federal Agency for Criminal Investigation, as part of the ongoing ‘Operation CHAKRA-III’, has dismantled a sophisticated cybercrime network powered by virtual assets and gold that had been targeting victims since 2022.

Case registered against main accused Vishnu Rathi

The CBI’s International Operations Wing had earlier on Monday registered a case against prime suspect Vishnu Rathi and launched an investigation into the conspiracy that targeted US citizens between June and August 2022 by gaining unauthorized remote access to victims’ computers and bank accounts on the pretext of providing technical support services.

“The accused falsely informed the victims in the US that their bank accounts had been hacked and their bank accounts were at risk. They manipulated the victims into transferring $453,953 to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by them,” a senior CBI official said.

It is not clear whether the money transferred to cryptocurrency wallets belonged to one or more victims. CBI sleuths quickly conducted extensive searches at multiple locations linked to the accused and raided locations in Mumbai and Kolkata on Thursday and Friday to seize incriminating data and expose a transnational cyber-enabled financial crime network.

About the seized items

During the search of Rathi’s residence, 57 gold bars of 100 grams each, Rs 16 million in cash, mobile phones and a laptop used to manage cryptocurrencies, locker details and other incriminating documents were seized.

Mastermind Rathi, who hails from Mumbai, was arrested last week during the raids. Future operations will identify victims of the cybercrime in collaboration with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in multiple countries through INTERPOL for follow-up of leads.

About Operation CHAKRA-III

Operation CHAKRA-III, initiated by the CBI to combat and dismantle organised cybercriminal networks for financial crime through a globally coordinated law enforcement operation using INTERPOL channels, has shown encouraging results, with arrests of several criminal gangs and seizure of cryptocurrencies.