New Delhi: Delhi Police’s Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit has busted a cyber fraud network after a businessman lost Rs 3.9 crore in 149 unauthorised transactions. The racket allegedly laundered the money through mule accounts, cash withdrawals and hawala channels before using a foreign exchange application to convert it into USDT cryptocurrency. Seven people have been arrested.
The case was reported by Prince Bansal (28), who deals in non-banking financial company (NBFC) and loan-related transactions. He told police that Rs 3.9 crore was debited from his bank account without his knowledge on Oct 5. The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal has since placed a lien on Rs 1.7 crore of the stolen funds. Police arrested co-accused Piyush Talaniya (19), who allegedly sent Rs 9.5 lakh to Lal, and Vipin Chanwariya (19), who allegedly withdrew Rs 7 lakh on Lal’s instructions on Oct 12. Police recovered 45 cheque books, 45 ATM cards, 25 passbooks and 13 mobile phones.
Some accused allegedly arranged accounts in their names or facilitated the use of accounts belonging to others. Further investigation is under way to establish the money trail and identify remaining network members.
DCP (IFSO) Gaurav Tyagi stated that a seven-day investigation across Rajasthan led to the arrest of a cyber fraud suspect Brij Lal (29) in Phalodi. Lal, who was tracked through bank transactions, was also wanted in a separate Rs 95 lakh cyber fraud case.