Doctor among 2 held receiving Rs 3 lakh bribe in Karnataka's Haveri
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Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
SIM boxes, fake officials and threats: Chandigarh Police bust Rs 1,000 crore digital arrest ‘scam', arrest 10
The Chandigarh Police said Friday they have busted a sophisticated digital arrest 'scam' operated by a transnational cybercrime syndicate based in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, with the arrest of 10 people across Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Officers of the Cyber Crime Police Station arrested the suspects after lodging a First Information Report (FIR) registered on July 21 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). They also said Rs 36.98 lakh has been frozen across various bank accounts linked to the suspects. They said details of the accused and the equipment they seized have been shared with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to determine their possible links with other cybercrime cases across India. The police said the alleged scam came to light after Manjeet Behl, a senior citizen and wife of late Brigadier Amarjit Singh Behl, lodged a complaint, saying she was duped of Rs 1.01 crore after being threatened on a voice call, followed by a WhatsApp video call from someone posing as a CBI officer. The caller falsely accused her of being involved in a money laundering case linked to her Aadhaar number and bank details. The fraudsters shared fake documents, including forged government notices and a fabricated bank passbook, with her. During the video call, a fake police station setup was displayed to intimidate her into transferring her life savings into accounts claimed to be for 'safe custody.' Modus operandi Investigations revealed the alleged scam was being orchestrated from Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Hong Kong. The fraudsters used devices known as SIM boxes, which can generate lakhs of IVR calls per day by converting internet-based calls into local mobile calls, thereby bypassing telecom tracking. Geetanjali Khandewal, Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime, who headed the probe, said victims across India were targeted by people impersonating officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), or courier companies like FedEx, and each SIM card plugged into these devices could make over 1,500 calls per day. The syndicate was estimated to be causing losses of nearly Rs 1,000 crore to the Indian economy every month, said the police. According to the police, Indians were lured via Facebook and Telegram with promises of work-from-home jobs. They were then recruited to operate the SIM boxes by providing internet connectivity, uninterrupted power supply, and SIM cards, with all activity monitored remotely by foreign handlers through Telegram groups. Acting on technical leads and approvals, Chandigarh Police launched a series of coordinated raids in Meerut, Ludhiana, and Amritsar. In Meerut, Parvez Chauhan was arrested with a SIM box, Wi-Fi router, and over 70 SIM cards. He admitted to earning 50 USDT per day in cryptocurrency for routing international scam calls. In Ludhiana, Vijay Kumar Shah and Krishna Shah, two men of Nepalese origin, were arrested for their fraudulent point-of-sale (PoS) operations where they activated multiple SIMs using one customer's KYC without their knowledge. These SIMs were later sold to Akash Kumar, who distributed them further. The police then arrested Suhail Akhtar, who confessed to purchasing SIMs from Kumar, and supplying them to Shubham Mehra alias Sunny. They searched a rented property in Amritsar where Mehra was operating a SIM box facility. The police seized six high-end SIM boxes (Dinstar brand), over 400 SIM cards, 11 mobile phones, laptops, routers, and modems. The police said Mehra admitted he was recruited through a Facebook ad and Telegram by foreign nationals, and was paid Rs 25,000 in cash monthly for managing the infrastructure. The chain extended to Ajit Kumar, Vipin Kumar, Saroj Kumar, and Abhishek Kumar, who were involved in sourcing and financing the illegal SIM operations. Vipin provided financial backing, while Saroj and Abhishek, both PoS agents, activated SIMs, which were later used in cyber frauds. The police said their probe also revealed a human trafficking angle. Between 2022 and 2025, nearly 3,000 Indian citizens were rescued from countries like Cambodia and Laos, where they had been lured by fake job offers and forced to operate cyber scams under duress, including the digital arrest model.
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First Post
29 minutes ago
- First Post
Sayonara to host bars: Why Japan is cracking down on these establishments
Tokyo's host clubs, where women pay big bucks for male companionship, is facing increased scrutiny. Authorities in Japan say some of these establishments are exploiting vulnerable women, luring them into heavy debts, emotional manipulation, and even coercing them into sex work read more Passersby walk past in front of an illuminated advertising board of a gigolo club called "host club" in Kabukicho, Tokyo's biggest amusement district. File image/reuters In the heart of Tokyo's nightlife district, host clubs have long been a curious part of Japanese culture. Places where women pay big bucks to sip champagne and share flirtatious banter with sharply dressed young men who know exactly how to make them feel special. But behind the glitz and fun, a darker side is coming to light. Authorities in Japan are now cracking down on these clubs, saying some of them are exploiting vulnerable women, luring them into heavy debts, emotional manipulation, and even prostitution. With growing concern from victims' groups, media, and police, the government is finally stepping in to regulate an industry many say has gone too far. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here's a look at what host clubs really are, why they're under the scanner, and how the crackdown is affecting lives on both sides of the bar. Inside the host club culture in Japan Host clubs are nightlife venues where women pay to spend time with attractive, sharply dressed men, known as 'hosts', who shower them with attention, conversation, and drinks, often bought at highly inflated prices. But these drinks don't come cheap. A simple bottle of sparkling water can cost as much as 6,000 yen (around Rs 3,500), and over-the-top champagne towers can run up tabs in the millions. A male host waiting for customers at a host club in the Kabukicho area of Tokyo. File image/AFP The hosts cultivate a sense of intimacy or romantic affection, often encouraging repeat visits and lavish spending via flattery, playful banter, and even messages that suggest affection. John Reno, a popular host and owner of Club J in Tokyo's red-light district Kabukicho, told _AFP, '_Hosts used to employ intimacy primarily to entertain women.' But according to him, things have changed. 'Their mindset today is basically, 'If you love me, then don't complain,'' he said, suggesting that emotional manipulation has become more common. 'It silences women and exploits their emotional dependence.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For some women, the connection with a host becomes a central part of their emotional world. In return, they may return night after night, spending tens of thousands of yen, sometimes going into debt to maintain the attention of their favourite host. According to Arata Sakamoto, who runs the non-profit Rescue Hub in Kabukicho, many of these clients are not wealthy professionals, but vulnerable women seeking comfort and belonging. Host clubs can face fines of up to £1.5m and the law now forbids tactics like pressuring clients with threats to deny access to their favourite host. File image/ AFP 'To them, host clubs have become a place where they feel accepted,' he told AFP. 'It reassures them that they can be who they are, albeit in exchange for money.' Why are authorities cracking down? The Japanese government has begun cracking down on host clubs, following a growing number of complaints and police reports alleging emotional exploitation, financial manipulation, and in some cases, sex trafficking. Under a new law that came into effect in June 2025, hosts are now prohibited from manipulating women into buying overpriced drinks by playing on their romantic feelings. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The legislation specifically targets behaviour that threatens to end a 'relationship' if a client refuses to spend more, something victims' groups say has become common in recent years. 'It's exactly the same as a religious cult, the way the clubs manipulate and brainwash the women. They use a manual to target women and give them their first visits free to rein them in,' Founder Hidemori Gen said at Foreign Correspondents Club for Japan press conference in December 2024. While high-flying businesswomen used to be the main clientele, girls 'with no place to be' are increasingly seeking refuge, according to non-profit Rescue Hub. AFP According to official data cited by AFP, host club-related police cases jumped from 2,100 in 2022 to 2,800 in 2024. These cases range from hosts ordering drinks without consent to more serious claims of coercion into prostitution. Taiwan's last 'comfort woman' dies: The history of World War II sex slaves Police say some hosts, facing pressure to meet sales targets, go as far as introducing cash-strapped clients to 'scouts'. They are brokers who recruit women into the sex industry as a way to clear their debts. One unnamed woman told The Japan Times she racked up 1.6 million yen in two months and later turned to sex work, earning up to 500,000 yen a month while sleeping in internet cafés. 'All that money went to the host,' she said. Authorities are also tightening regulations on host club marketing. Neon-lit billboards boasting 'No.1' host titles and flashy slogans like 'King' or 'god' are now banned. Police argue these rankings promote aggressive sales behaviour and unhealthy competition, encouraging hosts to push clients harder for money. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Platina, one of Kabukicho's most prominent host clubs, had to tape over promotional slogans on its signage in response. 'It's been the aspiration of many hosts to be called No.1, earn a title, and become famous in this town,' said Platina's owner, Ran Sena. 'Now, they don't even know what they should strive for.' Authorities are also tightening regulations on host club marketing. Neon-lit billboards boasting 'No.1' host titles and flashy slogans like 'King' or 'god' are now banned. AFP For women, too, the rankings were a way to reassure themselves that the money they spent on their 'oshi' (favourite) hosts was not in vain – proof they were helping them ascend in the cut-throat hosts industry. 'I think the industry is heading towards decline,' Sena said. With input from agencies
News18
35 minutes ago
- News18
Mizoram: Two women among five arrested, heroin seized
Agency: Aizawl, Aug 1 (PTI) Five people, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the seizure of heroin in three separate operations, police said. Champhai Police intercepted an Aizawl-bound taxi at Khankawn check gate in Champhai and seized 364 gm of heroin worth Rs 10.92 lakh on Thursday, police said. The taxi driver, identified as C Zoramhluna (29), a resident of Biate village and presently residing in Aizawl's Chaltlang Lily Veng locality, and his passengers Lalnunzira (34) and Lalthanmawia (30), both from Chaltlang Lily Veng, were arrested in connection with the seizure, they said. Zoramhluna revealed to the police that he had come to Champhai to receive the contraband for delivery to some persons in Aizawl, police said. All five accused were booked under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985. PTI CORR ACD view comments First Published: August 01, 2025, 18:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
