New Delhi: In a major crackdown on transnational cyber-enabled financial crime, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently carried out a nationwide and international operation codenamed Op CyStrike, targeting a sprawling network of online fraudsters.
The operation was conducted in close coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Interpol, and law enforcement agencies from the UK, Kuwait, Ireland, and Singapore.
Coordinated Raids Across India
As part of the operation, investigators conducted simultaneous searches at 35 locations across Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and several other states, including Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Telangana, and West Bengal.
During the raids, officials seized large quantities of electronic equipment, including laptops, mobile phones, and computer hard drives. They also recovered ₹60 lakh in cash and other incriminating material.
“The gang was targeting both domestic and international victims through sophisticated digital fraud,” a senior CBI officer said.
The operation was launched on January 30 following intelligence inputs received from foreign agencies about the activities of international scam syndicates.
Targeting ‘Mule Accounts’
Apart from making arrests, the CBI also froze several “mule accounts” — bank accounts used to transfer and conceal illegally obtained money. These accounts were used to route funds through multiple layers, making it difficult for authorities to trace the original source.
Officials said dismantling this financial infrastructure was a key objective of the operation.
Major Breakthrough in Delhi
One of the most significant successes came in Delhi, where investigators busted a network that had been defrauding citizens in the United States. During the raid, a large cache of digital devices containing evidence of large-scale financial theft was seized.
A key operative, Pfokrehrii Peter, was arrested from the spot.
The seized devices reportedly contained records of transactions, communication logs, and scripts used to deceive victims.
Fake Visa and Job Racket Exposed
In parallel, the CBI uncovered a fraudulent visa and employment racket operating in New Delhi, Ghaziabad, and parts of Karnataka. The group used a fake website, eservicemoi-kw.com, to impersonate official Kuwaiti government portals.
Through this platform, they allegedly lured Indian nationals with fake e-visas and bogus job offers from reputed companies in Kuwait, demanding large sums of money in return.
Investigators seized forged documents, digital templates, and communication records from the accused. Another key suspect, Suraj Srivastava, was arrested in connection with this racket.
High-Tech Fraud Network
According to officials, the syndicate operated through a highly organised and technology-driven system that combined online deception with rapid financial layering.
At the first stage, fraudsters used spoofed websites, fake email IDs, and pseudonymous online profiles to pose as government agencies, banks, or employers. Victims were pressured into making urgent payments for fabricated services.
Once the money was transferred, it was immediately routed through a network of mule accounts spread across different regions. This decentralised system helped break the audit trail and shielded the masterminds from direct exposure.
Specialised “cash-out” teams then withdrew the funds and converted them into untraceable cash.
Ongoing Investigation
CBI officials said further arrests are likely as data recovered from seized devices is being analysed. Investigators are also working with foreign agencies to track overseas links and identify kingpins operating from abroad.
Authorities described Op CyStrike as one of the most comprehensive actions taken so far against international cybercrime syndicates and said similar coordinated operations would continue in the future.
The case has once again highlighted the growing scale of digital financial fraud and the need for stronger international cooperation to combat it.
