200 cyber frauds arrested this year in Morigaon, Assam's Jamtara

In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, Morigaon Police Crime Branch has detained 14 individuals involved in illegal cyber activities across various locations in Assam, including Laharighat, Bhuragaon, Moirabari, and Guwahati on May 15. The coordinated operation, initiated at 1 AM , unveiled a sophisticated network of cybercriminals impacting victims far beyond the state.

 

The investigation revealed that the criminals acquired PAN numbers through a deceptive website, "https://www.mastersindia.co/gst-number-search-by-name-and-pan/". Using these details, they fabricated fake Aadhar cards at local Aadhar Enrolment Centers by submitting counterfeit documents. The criminals exploited Chinese editing apps like PAN Creator, available on the Google Play Store, to create forged PAN cards, which were then used to generate fake Aadhar cards.

 

The cybercriminals opened online bank accounts using the forged PAN and Aadhar cards and strategically applied for loans through various online platforms such as Kiwi, Piramal Housing and Finance, and L&T Finance. By submitting fake documents and mobile numbers, they secured loan sanctions from Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). The illicitly obtained funds were then transferred to various accounts using UPI, with a portion used for online shopping and other digital transactions.

 

Key Data and Arrests

 

The crackdown has resulted in the recovery of significant data and assets:

 

• Total cybercriminals arrested: 200 (from Morigaon district till May 2024)
• Total loan sanctioned amount: Rs. 15,92,84,129
• Total cash recovered: Rs. 4,45,120
• Total amount returned by banks: Rs. 19,00,000
• Total amount frozen in accounts: Rs. 23,28,356
• Recovered items: 221 PAN cards, 236 Aadhar cards, 66 Voter ID cards, 7688 SIM cards, 173 mobile phones, 16 laptops, 2 desktop computers, 261 ATM cards, 195 cheque books and passbooks, and 10 vehicles.

 

The investigation highlighted that 90% of the criminals were from the Miya community, with many adopting Hindu-sounding titles such as Agarwal, Verma, Gupta, and Singh to disguise their identities. Most of the perpetrators had limited educational backgrounds, and there was also notable female participation in these crimes. Moirabari in Morigaon emerged as a hotspot for such illicit activities, with victims ranging from businessmen to farmers.

 

Victims of these cybercrimes shared their harrowing experiences. One victim from a village reported discovering fraudulent loans taken in their name only after applying for a new loan in 2023. Another businessman found 13 unauthorized loans under his name when he applied for a loan in December 2022. Both victims reported their cases to the authorities, highlighting the widespread and severe impact of these crimes.

 

Despite numerous operations and arrests, cybercrimes in the state continue to pose a serious threat. Morigaon, often referred to as the 'Jamtara of Assam', has become a hub for these activities, with over 200 cybercriminals arrested in the past year, predominantly Muslims. The fight against cybercrime remains an ongoing battle, with new challenges arising with every download, click, and online interaction.