Fraud Briefing

In its suo motu case 'In Re: Victims of Digital Arrest Related to Forged Documents', the Supreme Court directed the RBI to prepare and circulate a Standard Operating Procedure for bank accounts linked to cyber fraud, including mule accounts, within four weeks, and to share it with Registrars General of all High Courts. The bench also ordered all states and union territories to operationalise the Grievance Redressal Module and Money Restoration Module under the Ministry of Home Affairs' January 2 SOP, submit state-wise and bank-wise data on cyber fraud grievances, ensure prompt disposal of bank account freezing cases, and launch public awareness campaigns on digital arrest scams. The matter is posted for further hearing on September 16, 2026. Complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal declined from 1,23,672 in 2024 to 58,249 in 2025, and to 16,377 through June 30, 2026.

An international cyber slavery and human trafficking syndicate lured Indian youths from Rajasthan and other states with promises of overseas jobs paying USD 800 to 1,000 a month. Victims were sent to Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, where their passports were confiscated and they were forced to work in scam compounds run by Chinese criminal networks. Roles included posing as women on social media to lure crypto investment victims, managing fake online identities, operating mule bank accounts, sourcing Indian SIM cards, and training recruits in fraud techniques. The syndicate ran digital arrest scams, fake investment frauds, cryptocurrency scams, and online job frauds. Arif Kathat alias Deepu, Kanu Singh alias Python, and Firoz Kathat alias Mafia were arrested on August 5, bringing the total number of accused arrested to eight.

Delhi Police's Dwarka Cyber Cell arrested six accused from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and seized 28 computers and electronic devices in the bust of the illegal cyber call centre. Investigators are tracing the financial trail to identify other associates in the network.