J&K: Cyber Fraud Racket Busted In Srinagar, 7 Held

Srinagar, Mar 19: The Counter Intelligence Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police has busted an international cyber fraud racket in Srinagar, arresting seven persons and seizing a large quantity of digital equipment, officials said on Thursday.

Acting on credible technical inputs about covert call centres involved in online fraud targeting foreign and local nationals, the CIK formed specialised teams and carried out surveillance and digital intelligence operations, leading to the identification of a key hub at Rangreth Industrial Area.

A coordinated raid was conducted at multiple locations in Srinagar on Wednesday, during which seven suspects were apprehended on the spot. Authorities recovered 13 mobile phones, nine laptops, VoIP systems, SIM cards, networking devices and digital storage media.

Officials said the seized material contains substantial incriminating evidence, indicating a highly organised and technologically advanced setup. Preliminary investigation suggests the accused are part of a wider cybercrime syndicate with links beyond Jammu and Kashmir.

The network allegedly targeted victims in countries including the USA, UK and Canada using international communication masking technologies, impersonation tactics and psychological manipulation, while laundering money through digital channels and cryptocurrency.

Investigators said the accused operated an unregistered call centre using VoIP systems to generate virtual international numbers and mask their location. Victims were lured through fake websites and online advertisements, after which they were deceived into sharing banking and personal details.

The defrauded money was routed through mule accounts, digital wallets and cryptocurrency, primarily USDT, and layered multiple times to evade detection. Officials said the transactions run into several crores and involved no cash dealings.

A case has been registered under relevant sections, including cheating, criminal conspiracy and the Information Technology Act. Further raids are underway, while forensic analysis of seized devices and efforts to trace victims and financial flows are ongoing, officials added.