Operation 'Cy-Vajra': Noida Police bust 8 fraud call centres, 49 booked

Noida: Uttar Pradesh Police have busted 17 illegal call centres across the state under a week-long anti-cybercrime drive, 'Cy-Vajra-1', with the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police alone dismantling eight of them and arresting 49 persons, officials said on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber) Shavya Goyal said the special operation was carried out statewide on the directions of the director general of police. In Gautam Buddh Nagar, police conducted extensive verification and raids based on digital and manual intelligence. During the operation, police questioned and verified more than 700 people and targeted gangs allegedly involved in supplying and trading mule bank accounts used by in channelling proceeds of cybercrimes, Goyal said. A total of 49 accused were booked during the drive. Police seized 67 mobile phones, 19 laptops, 76 SIM cards, 81 debit and credit cards, and more than Rs 5 lakh in cash from their possession. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrestees and the identified accused had direct or indirect links to cyber financial frauds involving more than Rs 60 crore, Goyal said, adding that the entire network is being investigated further. Based on leads obtained during the investigation, police also arrested a Nigerian national. Electronic devices and digital evidence recovered from him have been found to be linked to several complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), the DCP said. The seized digital evidence has been sent for forensic examination to help uncover the larger cyber fraud network, she added. Goyal said the objective of operation Cy-Vajra-1 was to curb illegal call centres, use of mule bank accounts and other activities linked to cybercrime. She appealed to the public to report cyber frauds immediately through the National Cyber Helpline 1930 or the NCRP and inform the nearest police station about any suspicious activities. According to senior Uttar Pradesh Police officials in Lucknow, the statewide operation targeted illegal call centres allegedly being used for online fraud and other cybercrimes.