International cyber fraud syndicate with links to Dubai, Cambodia busted

In a significant breakthrough, Jalandhar Rural Police busted an international cyber fraud syndicate with links to Dubai and Cambodia. The operation has led to the arrest of two key members of the gang — Varinder Singh and Amarinder Singh Saini, both residents of Bhilai, Chhattisgarh.

The investigation began when nine complainants were registered at Phillaur Police Station, reporting that they were offered Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 to open bank accounts. These accounts were later exploited for illegal financial transactions, including hawala operations and fund transfers using gaming and betting apps. The fraudulent transactions, amounting to Rs 1.40 crore, were routed through Delhi and subsequently transferred to Dubai and Cambodia.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh revealed that the operation was spearheaded by a specialised cyber team in coordination with Phillaur Police Station under the guidance of SP Investigation Jasroop Kaur Bath and Phillaur DSP Sarwan Singh Bal. The breakthrough came when Akashdeep, one of the complainants, reported unauthorised transactions from his Karnataka Bank account. Another complainant, Sanjeev, assisted as a decoy, helping the police identify the accused.

Preliminary investigations uncovered 23 bank accounts suspected to have been used for fraudulent activities. The syndicate reportedly targeted economically vulnerable individuals, exploiting their accounts for hawala transactions and transferring funds to international networks. The gang’s operations spanned multiple states, including Punjab, Delhi, and Chhattisgarh, and extended to Dubai and Cambodia.

Both accused have been remanded to police custody for further interrogation. Authorities plan to seek their remand to investigate their forward and backward linkages, identify other syndicate members, and trace the financial trail.

SSP Khakh praised the investigation team’s efforts and emphasised the importance of dismantling international cybercrime networks. He assured the public of the Jalandhar Rural Police’s commitment to combating cyber fraud and ensuring financial security.