CBI takes down the transnational cybercrime network in India

India’s top investigative agency has taken down a vast transnational cybercrime network that led to the arrest of 26 people and the seizure of millions worth of cash, cryptocurrency and gold bullion.

In an aggressive sweep across multiple Indian cities, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) dismantled a sophisticated transnational cybercrime network that had siphoned off millions from global victims.

The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Chakra-III’, a multi-phase mission launched in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, dealt a major blow to a crime gang that used technology to commit financial fraud using virtual assets and precious metal.

Over the past eleven months, as the second phase of the operation resulted in similar crackdowns, Operation Chakra-III has uncovered extensive evidence of illegal activities, including the recovery of significant cash, luxury vehicles and gold bullion. These findings are part of a broader effort to tackle cybercriminals who target unsuspecting individuals, especially in the US.

The first breakthrough in cybercrime research

On September 14, the CBI published details of a successful operation against a group led by prime suspect Vishnu Rathi. This group allegedly scammed a US citizen into transferring nearly half a million dollars to cryptocurrency wallets under the guise of a technical support service. The victim, who was led to believe that her bank account had been compromised, had unknowingly handed over control to the criminals, who manipulated her into making the large transfer. This is a common tactic used by cybercriminals: exploiting victims’ fear of compromised personal information and bank accounts.

CBI investigators, working with the FBI, launched searches at multiple locations in Mumbai and Calcutta earlier in September. The raids resulted in the recovery of 57 gold bars, INR 1.6 million in cash and digital devices containing key evidence. This coordinated operation marked the beginning of CBI’s larger strategy to dismantle the entire network.

Aimed at a larger web

As Operation Chakra-III progressed, the CBI launched a fresh wave of raids on September 30. This time the focus expanded to include call centers in Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Visakhapatnam. The call centers were central hubs in the network’s operations, where more than 170 individuals were involved in various forms of online fraud, mainly targeting US citizens.

During these searches, 951 electronic devices were seized, including laptops, mobile phones and financial data used to carry out the fraud. CBI officers also recovered INR 58.45 lakh in cash, locker keys and three high-end luxury vehicles tied to the suspects.

In this operation, 26 key police officers were arrested, of which ten were apprehended in Pune, five in Hyderabad and eleven in Visakhapatnam. The arrested persons are charged under India’s Information Technology Act, 2000 and the newly enacted BNSS Act, 2023. The crime network used a range of tactics to dupe victims, including posing as technical support staff and causing panic among the victims by falsely claiming that their bank accounts had been stolen. has been compromised.

A broader international effort and implications

CBI’s Operation Chakra-III shows the complexity of dismantling a transnational cybercrime network. The cooperation between Indian law enforcement agencies, INTERPOL and US authorities, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has been crucial in bringing down these operations. The CBI is now following up on international leads through INTERPOL channels, with further investigation expected to reveal more layers of the criminal operation.

In both phases of the operation, the suspects specifically targeted foreign victims, leading them to believe that their personal information and finances were at immediate risk. Such psychological manipulation tactics, combined with the growing complexity of virtual asset-based transactions, call for further cross-border cooperation in the fight against cybercrime.

Future perspective

The ongoing investigations are expected to reveal more intricate details about how this cybercrime network laundered money through cryptocurrencies and gold bullion. Cryptocurrency transactions, which were often perceived as anonymous, allowed criminals to quickly move money across borders without being noticed. However, the CBI’s coordination with international agencies is expected to disrupt these efforts.

Operation Chakra-III represents a crucial change in the way Indian authorities tackle cybercrime. By integrating real-time intelligence sharing with global counterparts, the CBI goes beyond domestic law enforcement to tackle cybercriminals exploiting technological loopholes.

This multi-city, multinational approach proves that no cybercriminal network is out of reach. Authorities will continue to focus on identifying more victims and recovering stolen money, while continued raids and arrests indicate the network’s demise is far from complete.

With INTERPOL and foreign law enforcement agencies at its side, the CBI’s success in this operation may inspire other countries to pursue similar cooperative strategies to dismantle organized transnational cybercrime networks.

News of the latest takedown comes after India secured a top spot in the Global Cybersecurity Index – a tribute to the country’s increasingly strong cyber position.

India claimed a spot in the Tier-1 category in the latest Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024 published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). With a ranking of 98.49, India is one of 47 countries rated as a leading nation that has demonstrated a commitment to robust cybersecurity practices.

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