The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a series of coordinated raids at eight locations in West Bengal on Thursday, January 2, 2025. The action stems from an investigation into an extensive cyber fraud network that reportedly siphoned off over ₹1,000 crore in Tamil Nadu.
The ED’s operations spanned several locations, including the bustling areas of Park Street, Salt Lake, and Baguihati in Kolkata, as well as three undisclosed locations in other state districts.
According to a senior ED official, the raids were meticulously planned to uncover the intricate web of cyber criminals believed to operate across multiple states, reports The Hindu.
“Our officers are now conducting raids at a flat in a high-end residential complex in Baguihati,” the officer disclosed.
During a raid in the Salt Lake area, officials detained an individual for questioning. However, authorities have not released further details about the person’s identity.
Preliminary investigations suggest several individuals from eastern Indian states are involved in this elaborate cyber fraud scheme. The ED aims to dismantle this network, which allegedly funnelled money through a series of digital transactions to evade detection.
Between January and September 2024, the Tamil Nadu authorities froze more than Rs. 500 crore in fraud-related funds, leveraging automatic systems and manual intervention.
Tamil Nadu also received more than 90,000 cybercrime-related complaints during this period. The cyber crimes mainly include phishing, Know Your Customer (KYC) scams, and digital arrests.
In the due course of the investigation, authorities have managed to recover about Rs. 48 crore, about five per cent.
Financial scams are becoming increasingly rampant nationwide, driven by rapid internet access. Furthermore, the general population lacks cybersecurity training and knowledge, which allows cybercriminals to easily deceive individuals into giving up their hard-earned money.
In October last year, a woman in India lost Rs. 87,000 through a scam app at Bengaluru Airport. A senior citizen was swindled out of Rs. 50 lakh on WhatsApp in November, where the fraudsters promised high returns for an investment.
To protect the citizens of India, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) blocked more than six lakh mobile numbers and 709 apps in November 2024.
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