Mumbai Crime Branch Probes Rs 500 Crore Cyber Fraud Linked to Sri Lanka
The Mumbai Crime Branch's investigation into an international cyber fraud racket operating out of a luxury villa near Calangute Beach in Goa has revealed that a key handler is allegedly based in Sri Lanka and that approximately Rs 500 crore was funneled through more than 150 mule accounts over six months.
Investigators stated that the fraudulent proceeds were transferred to Dubai and subsequently converted into USDT cryptocurrency. The ongoing probe revealed that the syndicate carried out various cyber schemes, including digital arrest scams, WhatsApp profile picture-related frauds, and malicious APK file-based frauds.
Police noted that while cyber fraud masterminds have traditionally operated from countries such as Cambodia, the suspected involvement of a key handler based in Sri Lanka has raised new concerns for law enforcement. Investigators are assessing whether Sri Lanka is emerging as a new hub for cyber crime syndicates and examining how local authorities there might respond to such operations.
The physical operation in India was situated inside a 2,000-square-foot villa near Calangute Beach, which had been rented for roughly Rs 1 lakh a month. Officers believe the premises had been active for six to eight months. In light of these findings, police are currently investigating whether similar cyber fraud operations are running out of other rented villas near beaches across Goa.
According to the police, young individuals were lured into the operation under the pretext of securing employment in the garment industry. Once brought in, they were trained by absconding members of the network to process fraudulent financial transactions. Internal communications among network members were conducted through an application called Rudra.
The operatives were paid monthly salaries ranging between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000, in addition to a 3 percent commission on the transactions they processed. Investigators observed that those involved were leading lavish lifestyles prior to the racket being busted.
