Thane Police have dismantled a sophisticated cyber fraud racket, arresting seven individuals in a dramatic raid at a hotel in South Goa. The gang, operating across states, allegedly deceived at least 80 job aspirants by opening bank accounts in their names and using them for illegal transactions, including online gaming fraud and other cybercrimes. The arrests were made on Friday following a complaint from a victim whose bank account and SIM card were misused.

The accused, identified as Anand Ashok Meghwani (34) from Madhya Pradesh, Saurabh Sharma (40) from Chhattisgarh, and Bhola Pradeep Yadav (21), Lalchand Mukhia (25), Gaurav Yadav (25), Rohit Yadav (21), and Rajakumar Yadav (21) from Bihar, lured victims with false job promises. “They paid job seekers Rs 5,000 to open bank accounts, then took control of their passbooks, ATM cards, and SIM cards,” said Inspector Atul Adurkar of Thane Police. These materials were sent to Goa, where the gang used them for fraudulent activities.

The scam came to light when a victim, failing to secure the promised job, discovered unauthorized transactions in his bank account. Acting on a tip-off, Thane Police raided the hotel, seizing two laptops, 30 mobile phones, 11 bank passbooks from Nagpur, multiple ATM cards, and SIM cards. Investigations revealed the gang operated nomadically, relocating every 15 days to evade capture, with local agents facilitating the transfer of banking materials.

Also Read: Ambush in South Goa: Gunmen Fire at Car, Assault Two Men in Brutal Attack

The accused have been charged under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating, alongside provisions of the Information Technology Act. Thane Police are now working to identify additional gang members and trace the full extent of the fraud, which may involve hundreds of illicit transactions. The bust highlights the growing menace of cyber fraud in India, with criminals exploiting vulnerable job seekers to fuel their schemes. Authorities urge the public to verify job offers and safeguard personal banking details to prevent such exploitation.

Also Read: Syrian Gang Busted for Gaza Donation Scam in Gujarat