Indian Police Crack Down on Global Cybercrime Network, Arrest 12

At least 12 individuals involved in high-stakes cybercrimes, including investment fraud, scholarship scams, and a digital arrest scam, have been arrested by the Chennai City Police, India. Police confirmed that the suspects had international connections.

The crackdown began after a tip-off led investigators to a gang of eight suspects running an online trading scam. These criminals, operating in coordination with their Sri Lankan counterparts, lured victims with fraudulent high-return investment schemes. In one case, a doctor lost over ₹8.79 million to a fake trading platform.

Following the arrests, police seized mobile phones, SIM cards, and a laptop used to orchestrate the scams. Further inquiries revealed the group was also involved in scholarship fraud targeting students, prompting the cybercrime wing, in coordination with the Delhi police, to apprehend three more suspects.

In a related case, a victim fell prey to a “Digital Arrest” scam, receiving a WhatsApp video call from someone impersonating the Mumbai police. The fraudsters coerced him into transferring ₹27 million, claiming it was needed to verify banknote serial numbers. Investigators traced the funds to a State Bank of India (SBI) account in Kerala, leading to the arrest of another suspect.

Police uncovered that the bank account was linked to 99 complaints filed via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP).

Authorities are tracking and arresting remaining suspects and have also issued a public advisory, urging people to remain vigilant against online fraud and report any suspicious activities immediately.