Punjab Police breaks international cyber fraud racket operated by Assam-based Islamists criminal gangs

Guwahati: In a significant breakthrough, Punjab Police’s Cyber Crime Division recently dismantled an international online job fraud racket orchestrated by Muslim cybercriminals based in Assam. The operation led to the arrest of four individuals from Assam, identified as Jahirul Islam, Rafiul Islam, Mehabub Alam, and Azizur Rehman.

These Muslim cybercriminals had turned Assam into a hub for cybercrime, engaging in duping people across the country and defrauding crores of Rupees. The gangs, primarily operating from the middle Assam districts of Nagaon, Morigaon, had targeted numerous individuals through a Telegram mobile app group, offering deceptive ‘work from home’ opportunities.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav revealed that the modus operandi involved luring victims with small tasks, paying a small amount initially, and then manipulating them to deposit money under various pretexts, promising significant returns. The Punjab Police’s crackdown exposed the depth of this cyber fraud nexus with international ramifications.

The arrests uncovered a trove of incriminating evidence, including two swipe machines, biometric scanners, eye scanners, fingerprint scanners, 38 PAN cards, 32 debit and credit cards, 16 SIM cards, 10 voter cards, nine Aadhaar cards, and 10 bank account passbooks and cheque books. This haul emphasises the sophistication of the criminal operation.

ADGP, Cyber Crime, V. Neeraja, highlighted that the investigation stemmed from a complaint by a woman who was defrauded of Rs 25 lakh. The Cyber Crime team traced the gang’s operations back to Assam. The accused Jahirul Islam and Rafiul Islam were apprehended from Nagaon district, revealing their involvement in running a Customer Services Point (CSP) misusing public documents.

Mehabub Alam, arrested in Guwahati, disclosed that he collaborated with Azizur Rehman, who enlisted him to provide bank account details for a commission. Azizur Rehman, arrested from Morigaon district, was a key figure in the racket.

DIG, Cyber Crime, Nilambari Jagadale, shared that investigations have identified 160 victims across 23 states, with the possibility of uncovering more as the inquiry progresses. The arrests and the subsequent revelations highlight the need for collaborative efforts between states to combat the growing menace of cybercrime.