Nine arrested for cyber fraud, fraudsters operated from hotels near DLF, Gachibowli

Hyderabad: On credible information, the Special Operations Team (SOT) of Medchal, along with the Cyber Crime Police of Cyberabad, arrested nine individuals involved in operating mule accounts for cybercriminals engaged in fraudulent financial transactions. The arrests were made in connection under sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) of the BNS, along with Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act, 2000-2008.

The accused were part of an organized cyber fraud network that laundered illicit funds through multiple current accounts. These accounts were controlled through unauthorized mobile applications and SIM swaps, enabling the transfer of large sums of money from online frauds, scams, and other cybercrimes. The accused allegedly facilitated these activities by providing their bank accounts to cybercriminals.

Two of the accused, Sumit Rathore and Manvendra Singh Rathore, are residents of Rajasthan, while the remaining seven individuals are from Hyderabad, Telangana.

According to authorities, the group operated under the instructions of an international handler, known by the Telegram alias @Jack. They arranged for account holders to stay at hotels near DLF, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, where their bank account documents were collected. Additionally, a malicious APK file, specifically designed for Samsung phones, was installed on their devices to remotely access their accounts. The hotels were booked for a week, and the group frequently changed locations to avoid detection.

The facilitating agents involved in the operation primarily arrived from Rajasthan. During the raid, authorities seized 16 mobile phones, one laptop, two cars, and Rs. 82,500 in cash.

All the accused have been taken into custody and remanded for further investigation. Efforts are ongoing to trace additional beneficiaries, digital footprints, and to identify the main handler, @Jack.

The Cyber Crime Police have urged the public to remain vigilant against suspicious emails or calls claiming to be from banks or e-commerce platforms. They advised verifying such communications with official sources and reporting any suspicious activities to local authorities.

For assistance, citizens can contact their local Cyber Crime Police Station or dial 1930. Authorities also encouraged the public to report any unusual call center-like activities in their neighborhoods to the police.