Punjab Cops Break Interstate Cyber Fraud Ring, 38 Held

Punjab Police shattered an elaborate interstate cybercrime syndicate, arresting 38 suspects—including several women—from a makeshift call center hidden inside a resort. The joint raid by Kapurthala Cyber Cell and Phagwara city police on Thursday uncovered a sophisticated operation preying on victims in the United States and Canada, hacking devices under the guise of software support scams.

The diverse group hailed from across India—Punjab, New Delhi, Nagaland, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Haryana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra—highlighting the racket's nationwide reach. Police sources revealed the mastermind had leased the resort to set up the illegal hub, recruiting operatives to pose as tech experts and siphon funds through remote access fraud. "These fraudsters were raking in crores by exploiting trust in fake tech support," a senior officer said, noting the syndicate's focus on international targets for higher payouts.

The early Friday FIR invoked sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating and criminal conspiracy, alongside the Information Technology Act for hacking and data theft. Seized items included 40 laptops, 67 mobile phones, and Rs 10 lakh in cash, believed to be proceeds from the scams. The suspects were transported to Kapurthala for intensive interrogation, with police vowing to dismantle linked networks and freeze associated bank accounts.

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This bust underscores Punjab's aggressive crackdown on cyber fraud, following a surge in complaints from overseas victims. Authorities are now tracing digital footprints to uncover accomplices and recover stolen funds, sending a strong message to digital crooks: no resort hideout is safe.

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