TGCSB Nabs 101 in Multi-State Cybercrime Crackdown
Several mobile phones, SIM cards, bank passbooks and cheque books allegedly used in fraudulent transactions were also seized during the operation: Police
Hyderabad: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has arrested 101 accused persons, including 18 women, and traced fraudulent transactions amounting to approximately Rs 17 crore during a coordinated two-week cybercrime operation conducted across six states and Union Territories in South India.
The operation, which commenced on September 23, covered Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Puducherry, targeting individuals and networks allegedly involved in cyber-enabled financial crimes and the movement of fraudulent funds through mule bank accounts.
Of the 101 persons arrested, 35 were from Kerala, 22 from Andhra Pradesh, 17 from Karnataka, 14 from Tamil Nadu, 12 from Telangana and one from Puducherry. The investigation identified 19 of those arrested as alleged agents or intermediaries and 81 as mule account holders.
Several mobile phones, SIM cards, bank passbooks and cheque books allegedly used in fraudulent transactions were also seized during the operation. The Bureau said approximately Rs 17 crore in fraudulent transactions was traced through the mule accounts.
The arrests are connected to 51 cases registered across seven TGCSB Cyber Crime Police Stations. Investigators have so far traced 1,172 cybercrime links across India, including 206 links connected to Telangana.
Of the 101 accused arrested, 50 were found to have more than five crime links across the country, according to the Bureau, indicating the extent of the networks allegedly involved in the cases.
The investigation found that the accused came from different age groups, professions and educational backgrounds. TGCSB said 82 per cent of those arrested were in the 20-50 age group, while 17 per cent were above 50.
Business and self-employment accounted for the largest occupational group at 23 per cent, followed by private employment at 13 per cent, housewives or homemakers at 10 per cent, drivers and operators at seven per cent and sales and marketing professionals at five per cent.
Educationally, 26 per cent of the accused had Intermediate-level education, while 24 per cent were graduates or degree holders. Another 16 per cent had secondary education, 11 per cent were uneducated and seven per cent had Diploma or ITI qualifications.
The Bureau also identified several accused with professional qualifications and employment backgrounds who were allegedly involved in facilitating the movement of cybercrime proceeds. The operation also involved coordinated arrests across state boundaries.