Cyber criminal gang member in CBI net

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested an alleged member of a cyber criminal gang involved in an investment fraud that duped people by offering shares of reputed listed companies at discounted prices, officials said on Friday.

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The accused, identified as Pratik Tanpure, a resident of Kalyan in Maharashtra, was arrested as part of Operation Chakra-V, a nationwide crackdown on cyber-enabled financial crimes. The agency conducted coordinated searches at 10 locations across Delhi, Hisar, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune and Nashik in connection with the ongoing investigation.

According to the CBI, Tanpure played a crucial role in the scam by supplying pre-activated SIM cards and mule bank accounts to cyber criminal networks. These resources were essential in sustaining and expanding the operations of the fraud syndicate. “During the search, substantial incriminating material was recovered from his possession,” said a CBI spokesperson.

The fraudsters operated through a fake mobile application and WhatsApp groups, using these platforms to lure unsuspecting victims by promising them shares of reputed companies at highly discounted rates. Once the victims transferred their money, the scammers siphoned off the funds, resulting in significant financial losses for investors.

“The agency has also seized incriminating digital and documentary evidence, which helped expose the elaborate modus operandi used to deceive people,” the spokesperson said.