Massive Digital Scam In Ranchi Triggers Statewide Action

The CID in Ranchi dismantled a cybercrime syndicate linked to China-led investment scams and digital arrest threats. Investigators arrested seven operatives, including people from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, operating from a hotel under Jagannathpur police limits. Authorities seized twelve mobile phones, eleven SIM cards, fourteen ATM cards, a laptop, and a cheque book. The accused represented companies like Moonpay, Dragonpay, and Mangopay that supplied fraud infrastructure across India. The case connects to at least 68 FIRs involving mule bank accounts.

Cyber Fraud Gangs Exploit Legal Accounting Lapses

CID filed an FIR against forty “mule” bank account holders after funds exceeding ₹10 crore flowed through UCO, HDFC, IndusInd, and PNB accounts. Officials revealed that fraudsters target UID loopholes and local intermediaries who accept commissions for account access. The links came from intelligence gathered through India’s Cybercrime Coordination Centre portal.

Jharkhand Leads Cybercrime Response

From January to June 2025, Jharkhand police registered 620 cybercrime cases and made 767 arrests. They seized 1,283 phones and 1,664 SIM cards. The state deployed the Pratibimb portal and helpline 1930 for digital coordination. Yet, DGP Anurag Gupta acknowledged gaps in training and personnel. He noted that low-value scams involve malicious .apk installations while high-value scams originate abroad. The department now permits sub-inspectors to lead cybercrime probes to improve manpower.

In a haunting case, a retired Coal India officer lost ₹2.27 crore to a “digital arrest scam” that lasted eleven days. Fraudsters impersonated TRAI and cyber officials. They intimidated the victim into transferring life savings before vanishing. Another case involved a Jamshedpur scammer defrauding an Army officer of ₹2.98 crore through a fake Telegram-based investment scheme. These stories reflect the cruelty and sophistication now embedded in cybercrime across Jharkhand.

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