53 cyber dens exposed

In a major breakthrough, the Navi Mumbai Cyber Police have apprehended three individuals involved in a fraudulent scheme offering part-time jobs through Telegram. The gang, running a bogus call centre in Haware Centurion Mall, Nerul, successfully duped victims across the country, extorting significant sums of money.

The arrested individuals, identified as Ranvir Singh Narpat Singh Kanawat (28), Amarjit Prakash Yadav (21), and Jitendra Puranchand Mandaiya (21) – all hailing from Rajasthan, were found in possession of 12 mobile phones, 21 SIM cards, 13 debit cards, 8 cheques-books, 14 different company name stamps, 4 clerk licenses, and 3 enterprise certificates. The gang had created a fictitious company named Junior Edutech and established a fake call centre to carry out their fraudulent activities.

The modus operandi involved luring victims with promises of lucrative part-time jobs, only to exploit them in completing tasks like online airfare reservations. One victim from Navi Mumbai was coerced into paying Rs. 32.63 lakhs for the completion of a seemingly legitimate task.

Further investigation revealed that the gang operated 53 cyber dens across the country, with an extensive record of cyber fraud cases registered against them in various police stations, including Nashik Cyber Police Station, Dombivli Police Station, and Hudkeshwar Police Station. Allegedly involved in a total of 56 cyber dens, they faced charges in Maharashtra and other states.

The Cyber Police successfully froze a substantial amount of Rs 84.95 lakhs in the gang's bank account. Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Kale (Crime Branch Navi Mumbai) cautioned the public against responding to part-time job advertisements on platforms like Telegram and emphasized refraining from divulging personal information or engaging in financial transactions. The Cyber Police encourage citizens to report any such fraudulent activities promptly. The hunt for the main accused in the gang is currently underway.

“This operation marks a significant victory for the Navi Mumbai Cyber Police in their ongoing efforts to curb cybercrime and protect citizens from falling victim to online scams”, said a senior official.