Call centre of cyber scam busted, 15 held
This digital fraud operation, which used platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and the Reddy Anna betting app, is believed to have been remotely controlled by a mastermind operating from Dubai.
The local call centre in the Vrindavan Yojna area functioned as a dummy terminal for outreach and coordination. The gang duped over 1,000 people from across India, minting several crores.
A total of 15 accused were arrested during a coordinated raid at a residential tower in Vrindavan Yojna on Thursday.
Additional DCP, Crime Unit, Vasanth Kumar, who led the probe, told TOI that during questioning, all 15 accused admitted to involvement in cyber fraud and online gambling, targeting people across multiple states in India.
"They claimed they destroyed devices after usage and regularly changed locations to avoid detection. The Cyber Crime Portal confirmed 69 complaints linked to the seized phones and 157 complaints tied to recovered passbooks and cheque books," he said.
Kumar said that first victims were given initial fake wins to build trust. "After encouraging large deposits, their accounts were blocked or manipulated to show total losses.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Santo Tome (ver precio)
Verisure
Más información
Undo
The money was funnelled into mule accounts or cryptocurrency wallets, making it nearly untraceable," he said.
Kumar said that the alleged kingpin, identified as Vishal Yadav alias Ganni alias Prince, coordinated the operations remotely and has shifted base between Sri Lanka, Singapore, Dubai, and now India to avoid law enforcement heat. The scam was previously operated abroad before relocating to Lucknow just a month ago.
The gang, which lured victims across India by offering fake online work and betting opportunities, was being run remotely by its mastermind based in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Dubai.
Victims were approached through WhatsApp with offers of easy online income—work-from-home jobs, paid reviews, video likes, and commission-based tasks—to build initial trust. Once victims showed interest, they were shifted to Telegram groups or bots. Telegram's encryption and anonymity features enabled automated interaction and protected the scammers' identities. Kumar said that operations were managed via VoIP and virtual numbers to conceal the location.
Masterminds are believed to be operating from Dubai, using encrypted channels. Funds were funnelled through layered mule accounts, betting platforms like Reddy Anna, and cryptocurrency wallets to avoid detection.
Follow more information on
Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here
. Get
real-time live updates
on rescue operations and check
full list of passengers onboard AI 171
.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Threats to national security': US charges two Chinese nationals with spying; slams Beijing for trying to 'infiltrate military'
The United States on Wednesday charged two Chinese nationals with spying for Beijing. The charges include photographing a naval base, arranging a secret cash drop, and attempting to recruit US military personnel they believed could be persuaded to assist Chinese intelligence. "This case underscores the Chinese government's sustained and aggressive effort to infiltrate our military and undermine our national security from within,' attorney general Pam Bondi was quoted saying in a statement by AP. 'The Justice Department will not stand by while hostile nations embed spies in our country -- we will expose foreign operatives, hold their agents to account, and protect the American people from covert threats to our national security,' Bondi said. Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said he was unaware of the details of the case but dismissed the claims against China as baseless, saying there were 'no facts or evidence' to support them. He also accused the US of consistently conducting espionage operations against China. What are the charges against the two? Authorities have charged two men, Yuance Chen, 38, a Chinese national who came to the US on a visa in 2015 and later gained permanent residency, and Liren 'Ryan' Lai, 39, who lives in China but visited Texas earlier this year to oversee covert operations for China's Ministry of State Security (MSS). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available Original Adidas Shop Now Undo Prosecutors say Lai began cultivating Chen as an intelligence asset as early as mid-2021. Together, they allegedly coordinated the transfer of at least $10,000 in cash through a secret dead-drop, conducted surveillance of a Navy recruiting station in California and a naval base in Washington state, including taking and transmitting photos to Chinese intelligence, and sought to identify and recruit US navy personnel to spy for China. Chen is accused of gathering personal details about Navy recruits, particularly those with ties to China, and sharing that information with Chinese handlers to assess potential espionage prospects. Both were arrested for allegedly acting on behalf of Beijing without registering as foreign agents with the US justice department, as required by law.
Hindustan Times
36 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Youth commits suicide in Thane; woman booked for abetment based on phone chats
Thane, Police have registered a case against a 21-year-old woman for allegedly abetting a youth's suicide here after coming across their WhatsApp chats in which she encouraged him to end his life, officials said on Wednesday. Youth commits suicide in Thane; woman booked for abetment based on phone chats Sahil Sahdev Thakur, also aged 21, was found hanging at his home in Varchapada area at Sagav in Dombivli on June 26, an official from Manpada police station said. The man and the accused knew each other. On the day of the incident, the man was alone at home as his parents had gone out of town for a religious pilgrimage. After their return, his parents found him hanging at home and alerted the police, the official said. Initially, reasons behind the suicide remained unclear. However, the man's family later went through his mobile phone and found a series of WhatsApp chats with a woman, identified as "Babli", whose number was saved in the device. A former office-bearer of a political party on Monday accompanied the man's family to the Manpada police station where they showed the chat records, which allegedly contained disturbing exchanges between the man and the woman, hailing from Pade village, in the hours before the suicide, the official said. According to the police, between 2 am and 3.15 am on the night before his death, the man and the accused woman were engaged in an argument over phone. In the messages, the woman allegedly told the man: "There is no one at home, hang yourself. Don't use a new saree, use an old one," the official said. Senior Police Inspector Sandipan Shinde confirmed that the content of the chats was examined and found to be serious in nature. "Based on the digital evidence provided and the family's formal complaint, we registered a case against the woman on Monday under section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita," the official said. An investigation was underway to verify all aspects of the communication and the nature of the relationship between the deceased and the accused, the police said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Punjab sees sharp spike in traffic violations: Overspeeding challans rise 500%, drunk driving Up 430% in 5 months
CHANDIGARH: Punjab has recorded a five-fold increase in overspeeding challans and a four-fold jump in drunk driving penalties across the state in five months. Official data from the traffic wing of Punjab Police shows 16,428 challans issued for overspeeding between Jan 1 and May 31, a nearly 500% increase from the 2,745 recorded during the same period in 2024. Drunk driving challans also soared by 430%, from 776 to 4,115 in the corresponding periods. The police have issued at least 109 overspeeding and 17 drunk driving challans daily. A S Rai, ADGP, traffic and road safety, said, "Overspeeding and drunken driving are two major factors behind maximum accidents. To check them, the best strategy is to act tough against violators." He added that CM Bhagwant Mann directed a special focus on these areas, leading to investments in new and repaired alcometers to enhance enforcement. The traffic and road safety wing has bolstered its arsenal, procuring 12 additional laser speed guns to supplement the existing 28, which will soon be distributed to districts for improved traffic management, according to an official. Also, 400 new breath alcohol analysers (alcometers) are being purchased to augment the 669 already in use, strengthening the fight against drunk driving, the official added. The official said the enforcement would further increase as the automatic online challan system for overspeeding through laser speed guns mounted on Sadak Surakhya Force's interceptor vehicles on highways was set to become functional soon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The modalities for the system were being worked out and would be in place shortly, the official added. The AAP-led govt launched the Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) in Jan last year, making Punjab the first state with such a dedicated force to assist road accident victims and transport them to trauma centres. Comprising 129 vehicles, including 116 Toyota Hilux vehicles with advanced gadgetry, the SSF has already shown major results. Official figures from the traffic and road safety wing indicate a 47% decrease in road accident deaths in 2024 compared to 2023, falling from 2,161 to 1,143. District police chiefs are also actively involved in the crackdown. Pathankot SSP Diljinder Singh highlighted the strategic deployment of laser technology-based speed radars on NH 44 and roads leading to popular tourist destinations like Chamba and Dalhousie. Similarly, Hoshiarpur SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik said that curbing overspeeding and drunk driving is crucial alongside infrastructural improvements to prevent accidents. Beyond speeding and drunk driving, challans for mobile phone usage while driving also increased by 25% this year, with 5,643 challans issued between Jan 1 and May 31, compared to 4,510 in the same period last year. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
