Srinagar, Mar 19: In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) has dismantled an alleged international fraud network operating from Srinagar, leading to the arrest of seven individuals and seizure of extensive digital infrastructure.
Officials said the operation was launched after receiving credible technical inputs about unregistered call centres involved in online scams targeting both domestic and overseas victims. Acting on the information, dedicated teams carried out surveillance and digital tracking, eventually tracing the core setup to the Industrial Area in Rangreth.
Subsequent raids at multiple locations across the city resulted in the apprehension of the suspects. Investigators recovered a wide range of electronic equipment, including mobile devices, laptops, VoIP systems, SIM cards, networking tools, and storage media, believed to have been used in executing the scheme.
Preliminary findings suggest the group had created a concealed call centre using internet based calling systems to generate virtual international numbers. By masking their identity through advanced routing and spoofing techniques, they allegedly posed as legitimate service providers to mislead targets.
Authorities revealed that victims were lured through fake online advertisements and phishing links, which directed them to toll free numbers operated by the accused. During these interactions, sensitive financial details were extracted and later used to siphon funds into multiple accounts, including cryptocurrency wallets, primarily in USDT.
Investigators noted that the entire operation was conducted digitally, with no physical cash handling involved. The financial trail uncovered so far indicates transactions amounting to several crores, pointing to the scale of the network.
Officials added that the seized devices contain critical evidence of a well-organized and technologically advanced setup. A case has been registered under relevant legal provisions, and further investigation is underway.