Argus News - Odisha Police Cracks Cybercrime Syndicate in Operation Kavach

Bhubaneswar, Feb 21: The Odisha Police Commissionerate has dismantled three cybercrime networks under Operation Kavach, arresting 10 cybercriminals with international links.

The crackdown exposed a sophisticated racket involving online betting apps, gaming platforms, mule accounts, and cryptocurrency investments used to launder stolen money.

According to Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, the arrested individuals operated through mule accounts — bank accounts procured from unsuspecting citizens and used to channel fraudulent transactions. Victims’ money was routed through these accounts, with agents earning commissions for supplying them.

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“The accounts used by cyber fraudsters are called mule accounts. These are the accounts through which fraudulent money is withdrawn and transferred. We have identified such accounts, and they were being operated through an organized network. Ten people from this network have been arrested,” revealed the Police Commissioner.

“Without SIM cards and mule accounts, the fraudsters cannot access the money. Therefore, to stop such frauds, we are keeping close watch on networks using mule accounts and SIM cards,” he added.

The criminals further invested the illicit funds in cryptocurrency to evade detection and bypass investigation agencies. “Three individuals have also been arrested who were using fraud money in cryptocurrency. Later, some agents were arrested who were bypassing money through laundering,” Singh revealed.  

Commissioner Singh emphasized that targeting mule accounts and SIM cards is crucial to cutting off the financial lifeline of cyber fraudsters. He confirmed that three individuals involved in crypto-based laundering and several agents managing mule accounts have been arrested.

“These criminals also have foreign links, with their main operations extending outside the country. We have identified the methods they adopted to withdraw money after fraud and mislead investigation agencies,” the Police Commissioner stated further.

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The police seized passports, debit and credit cards, luxury cars including Mercedes and Renault, laptops, mobile phones, and a large number of passbooks linked to mule accounts. Investigations revealed connections to Dubai, China, and Jharkhand, highlighting the global reach of the network.

The police have vowed to continue Operation Kavach to dismantle such organized cybercrime syndicates. This operation marks a significant step in curbing cyber fraud in Odisha.