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1. CBI arrests two agents for trafficking Indians to Myanmar’s cybercrime hub
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two agents involved in the human trafficking of Indian nationals to cybercrime scam compounds in Myanmar. The accused, identified as Soyal Akhtar and Mohit Giri, trafficked victims from Rajasthan and Gujarat to Myanmar, where they were forced into cyber slavery. Recently, the Central government facilitated the rescue of several victims of cyber slavery from the KK Park centre in Myanmar. During the course of the enquiry, the CBI identified multiple agents operating on behalf of foreign scam compounds. The two arrested agents were found returning to India along with the rescued individuals and were immediately arrested upon arrival. Investigations have revealed that a large number of unsuspecting Indian citizens are being trafficked to scam compounds in Myanmar, often via Thailand. The Indian government brought back the rescued citizens, and through their questioning, the authorities have been able to identify and arrest several middlemen and agents involved in the trafficking network.
2. CBI arrests Axis Bank manager for aiding cyber fraud syndicate
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a branch manager of Axis Bank in Mumbai for allegedly accepting bribes to facilitate the opening of mule accounts used by cybercriminals to launder proceeds of large-scale digital frauds. The accused, identified as Nitesh Rai, was arrested on Tuesday after investigators found that he had allegedly abused his official position to process account-opening forms for individuals linked to organised cybercrime networks. These accounts, officials said, were later used to move and disguise funds extorted through online scams, including the notorious ‘digital arrest’ frauds. Under this scam, frauds impersonate law enforcement or government officials, convince victims they are under investigation, and virtually “detain” them through constant video monitoring, forcing them to transfer large sums of money under the pretext of clearing legal charges. The CBI has booked Rai under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
3. Bihar man arrested for hacking mobile phones of actors Upendra and Priyanka
Bengaluru police have arrested a 25-year-old man from Bihar for allegedly hacking the mobile phones of Kannada actor Upendra, his wife and actor Priyanka Upendra, and their manager, and cheating several people of lakhs of rupees through cyber fraud. According to the Sadashivanagar police, on September 15, Priyanka Upendra received a suspicious link on her mobile phone. Since she had ordered a few items online, she clicked on the link after the sender insisted she share an OTP. Soon after, her WhatsApp account was hacked. The hackers then messaged several contacts from her phone, claiming she was in an emergency and urgently needed money. Many, including close friends and associates, transferred around ₹55,000 each to the account shared by the fraudsters. When Priyanka realised that her phone was compromised, she tried calling her husband Upendra and their manager — only to find out that their phones, too, had been hacked. Even her son reportedly transferred ₹50,000, thinking his mother was in trouble.
4. Ajmer Retired Bank Employee Loses Rs 8.67 Lakh To ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam
A retired bank employee from Kishangarh in Rajasthan’s Ajmer lost Rs 8.67 lakh to a ‘digital arrest’ scam. A complaint has been filed with the Cyber Crime police station, and the matter is under investigation, police said. Head constable Jitendra Singh said the victim, Sampat Lal Maheshwari, was informed by fraudsters impersonating Delhi police officials through an unknown WhatsApp number with the profile name ‘Jai Hind’ that a person named Sadakat Khan was arrested at the airport in a human trafficking case. Upon searching his house, 180 ATM cards were recovered, including one in Maheshari’s name. The caller identified himself as Vijay Kumar, a senior Delhi police official, and informed the victim that his card was used by Khan for 155 transactions for which Maheshwari was given a 10% or Rs 35 lakh commission. Subsequently, the caller arranged for a conversation with another woman, claiming the case had been transferred to the CBI. The woman identified herself as a CBI officer and said a case had been filed against Maheshwari, which could result in a jail term of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs five lakh.
5.Ahmedabad cyber sleuths bust Nigerian-led online fraud network, 6 held from Mumbai, Bengaluru
In a breakthrough against transnational cyber fraud networks, the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has arrested six individuals, including a Nigerian national from Mumbai and Bengaluru, for allegedly operating a complex online scam that duped an Ahmedabad resident of over ₹32 lakh under the guise of a homoeopathic medicine trade. The arrested accused have been identified as Nigerian national Madufor Steve Uzochi, along with Krishnamati Chaudhary, Mahesh Chaudhary, Salim Shaikh, Trijugilal Kurmi, and Rajeshkumar Saroj — all residents of Mumbai and neighbouring areas. The police said that the complainant, Nihar Verma, a resident of Maninagar, Ahmedabad, was contacted online by individuals posing as representatives of an African pharmaceutical company. They claimed to be looking for an Indian supplier of Eupatorium Mercola Liquid, a homoeopathic medicine reportedly used in the treatment of malaria and dengue in Africa. During the operation, the police seized 14 mobile phones, seven SIM cards, 33 debit cards, and multiple diaries used for maintaining financial records. The seized debit cards were linked to accounts in Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Yes Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Saraswat Bank, and several cooperative banks.
6. CBI Court Denies Bail To Vasai Resident In ₹3.74-Crore Cyber Fraud Case
A special CBI court in Mumbai has refused to grant bail to Vasai resident Sudhir Palande, booked in a cyber fraud case by the CBI. Palande is alleged to be part of a syndicate that used bank accounts of his company, M/s SP Cargo and Courier Services Pvt Ltd, as ‘mule accounts’ to facilitate cybercrimes, including digital arrest, phishing, and identity theft. The CBI’s probe into the larger syndicate revealed that on July 2, Rs3.74 crore was credited to these accounts and subsequently diverted to other mule accounts. Palande sought bail, arguing that the investigation was complete and a chargesheet had been filed against him on September 2. He claimed innocence, stating he acted only as a commission agent without knowledge of the criminal conspiracy. However, the prosecution opposed the plea, asserting that Palande had full knowledge of the crime, conspired with bank officials to open the corporate account, and travelled to Nagpur to hand over the bank kit and SIM cards to enable fraudulent transactions. They described the case as a grave economic offence tied to a transnational cyber-crime syndicate, posing risks to the public and the nation’s economy. The prosecution highlighted the Rs3.74 crore involved in a single day’s transactions and noted that further investigation is ongoing.
7. Cyber Cell Uncovers Cross-State ₹5-Crore Crypto Trail in Digital Arrest, Investment Scams
A coordinated cybercrime crackdown across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand has exposed a sprawling network of fraudsters who used fake law enforcement identities, cryptocurrency conversions, and e-commerce fronts to launder millions. Police say the ₹5-crore digital trail leads all the way to Dubai. When cyber investigators in Delhi began tracing unusual e-commerce activity earlier this year, few expected it would uncover one of the most sophisticated financial fraud networks operating across northern India. The syndicate had mastered two of the most pernicious forms of online deception: the “digital arrest” scam — where victims are coerced into paying money by fake police or government officials — and investment frauds promising unrealistically high returns. Multi-state raids conducted in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand exposed a meticulously designed system: fake firms, mule accounts, and cryptocurrency transactions forming the backbone of the operation. Investigators say a ₹5-crore crypto trail, largely in Tether (USDT), was routed to Dubai-based handlers through a series of local intermediaries and bogus e-commerce entities created to mask financial flows.
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