New Delhi, August 10(HS): In a major breakthrough against transnational cybercrime, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled an elaborate cyber fraud syndicate operating out of a rented premises within the Rainforest Resort in Igatpuri, Nasik. The raids, conducted on Friday(August 8,2025), culminated in the arrest of five key members of the gang and the seizure of a staggering cache of cash, gold, cryptocurrency, and luxury vehicles.
According to investigators, the syndicate ran an illegal call centre that primarily targeted unsuspecting citizens in the United States, Canada, and other countries. Masquerading as employees of Amazon Support Services, the fraudsters used phishing techniques and fraudulent calls to trick victims into parting with money. The CBI has registered a case against six individuals from Mumbai, along with unidentified accomplices and certain bank officials suspected of facilitating the scam.
The call centre was staffed with approximately 62 operatives, divided into specialised roles — dialers who initiated the scam calls, verifiers who processed victim information, and closers who finalised the fraudulent transactions. Proceeds from the crimes were routed through gift cards and cryptocurrency to mask the money trail.
The arrested accused have been identified as Vishal Yadav, Shebaz, Durgesh, Abhay Raj alias Raja, and Sameer alias Kaliya or Sohel. Interrogations are underway, and a manhunt has been launched for additional members of the network.
The raids yielded 44 laptops, 71 mobile phones, vast volumes of digital evidence, ₹1.20 crore in cash, 500 grams of gold, and seven luxury cars with an estimated value of ₹1 crore. Investigators also uncovered transactions of 5,000 USDT cryptocurrency tokens (valued at about ₹5 lakh) and 2,000 Canadian dollar gift vouchers (worth approximately ₹1.26 lakh).
CBI sources revealed that the gang had been active for a considerable period, using sophisticated, technology-driven methods to cheat foreign nationals on a large scale. The ongoing probe will focus on unmasking the wider network, mapping banking transactions, and identifying international linkages.
Officials described the operation as a significant victory in India’s campaign to combat cyber-enabled financial crimes, underscoring the agency’s growing capabilities in tracking and dismantling complex, cross-border fraud schemes.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
