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ED raids in Gujarat, Maharashtra in cyber fraud probe over ₹100 cr scam

ED raids in Gujarat, Maharashtra in cyber fraud probe over ₹100 cr scam

On 25 June 2025, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids in Gujarat and Maharashtra as part of a money laundering probe linked to cyber frauds worth over ₹100 crore. The operation targeted individuals allegedly involved in digital arrest scams, crypto frauds, and fake law enforcement threats, with money funnelled abroad using hawala routes. According to ED sources, searches were conducted in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Surat under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The probe was based on an FIR filed by the Gujarat Police against multiple accused, including Makbul Doctor, Kaashif Doctor, Bassam Doctor, Mahesh Desai, and Maaz Abdul Raheem Nada. The fraudsters allegedly: Used fake USDT (cryptocurrency) trading schemes. Orchestrated “digital arrests”, impersonating law agencies. Sent fake notices to threaten and extract money from victims. Collected funds through accounts opened with forged or dummy KYCs. Converted black money into cryptocurrency via Angadiya (hawala) operators. Transferred over ₹100 crore abroad, officials suspect. “This is a deeply rooted cyber laundering network involving identity theft, crypto misuse, and psychological extortion,” said a senior ED official. The investigation is ongoing, with digital evidence, devices, and suspicious bank transactions being examined. Key Highlights: ₹100 crore cyber scam involved fake arrests, crypto fraud, and hawala transfers. The ED conducted raids in several Gujarati and Maharashtra cities. FIR filed against key suspects with a link to forged KYC accounts. Cyber Safety Advice: Never trust calls or emails claiming law enforcement without verification. Avoid crypto investments from unknown or unregulated sources. Secure your identity documents and avoid sharing KYC info online. Call 1930 or report questionable transactions or scams to cybercrime.gov.in.

Mira Bhayandar: MBVV Police Recover ₹3.54 Lakh Lost To Cyber Frauds

MBVV police

In the first case, the  MBVV police cyber cell received a complaint from a resident that he had fallen prey to the evil designs of cyber criminals who posed as representatives of a banking institution and cheated him of Rs 72,511 under the guise of helping him clear obstacles he was facing while using his credit card. Officials from the cyber cell attached to the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar MBVV police successfully managed to make collective reversals amounting to more than Rs 3.54 lakh which three people had lost to online frauds. In the first case, the cyber cell received a complaint from a resident that he had fallen prey to the evil designs of cyber criminals who posed as representatives of a banking institution and cheated him of Rs 72,511 under the guise of helping him clear obstacles he was facing while using his credit card. While the second complainant identified as Mr. Chauhan lost more than Rs 1.47 lakh after he clicked a malicious link sent by the cybercrooks, another person Shashi Pal was cheated of more than Rs 1.35 lakh with a lure of earning money by participating in online tasks including posting likes, reviews on YouTube videos and online rating to hotels/movies. Immediately after receiving the complaints, personnel from the cyber cell led by police inspector Sujitkumar Gunjkar started investigations and identified the bank accounts and e-commerce shopping portals in which the ill-gotten wealth had been parked. After continuous follow-ups with the concerned banks and the gateway of the digital platform that provided payment solutions, they managed to freeze Rs 72,511 and Rs 1.47 lakh respectively. The amount was reversed to the bank accounts of the complainants’ account following orders from the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Thane. The MBVV police cyber cell handed over symbolic cheques to the complainants confirming the reversals. With the latest recoveries, the MBVV police have managed to revert more than Rs.1 crore lost by complainants in various cases of cyber-frauds in the past couple of months. Stressing the need to be careful while dealing with unknown callers/senders and to lodge complaints as soon as possible (Golden Hour), MBVV police commissioner Madhukar Pandey said that people can contact the local police stations or directly approach or call the cybercrime cell on 1930 with an additional option of reporting online frauds through email at www.cybercrime.gov.in or on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP)