J&K Police smash sophisticated cyber fraud syndicate operating from Srinagar, seven arrested

• Seven held as multi-crore international cyber racket is busted in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 19: In a major crackdown on transnational cybercrime, the Counter Intelligence Kashmir wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has dismantled a highly sophisticated international cyber fraud racket operating from Srinagar and arrested seven suspects in a series of coordinated raids. Investigators said the operation exposed a covert and technologically advanced scam network that allegedly targeted victims in India as well as abroad, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Officials said the Counter Intelligence wing had received credible technical inputs about the functioning of hidden call centres engaged in fraudulent online activity. Acting on these leads, specialised teams of technical experts and field operatives were formed to carry out sustained surveillance, digital intelligence gathering and ground verification across multiple locations. The investigation eventually zeroed in on a key operational hub in the Industrial Area at Rangreth in Srinagar, which was allegedly being used as the nerve centre of the racket.

Following the intelligence build-up, police teams carried out swift and well-coordinated raids at different locations in Srinagar on Wednesday. During the operation, seven suspects were apprehended and a substantial quantity of digital and communication equipment was seized. The recovered material includes 13 mobile phones, nine laptops, VoIP systems, SIM cards, networking devices and digital storage media. Officials said the seized devices contain significant incriminating evidence pointing to a highly organised and well-structured criminal setup.

According to preliminary investigation, the accused are believed to be part of a larger cybercrime syndicate with links extending beyond Jammu and Kashmir. Police said a section of the network had been specifically engineered to target overseas victims through masked communication systems, impersonation tactics and psychological manipulation. Investigators suspect that the group operated through unregistered call centre infrastructure built on VoIP technology, allowing the accused to generate international virtual numbers, conceal their real location through server routing and spoofing techniques, and present themselves as legitimate service providers to unsuspecting victims.

Officials said the syndicate allegedly used a fake YahooMail-themed website and online advertisements to lure victims. Once a person clicked on the deceptive advertisements, a toll-free number would appear on the screen. That number was allegedly routed to the suspects, who then misled victims into believing that their bank accounts or digital devices had been compromised. Victims were reportedly persuaded to share sensitive financial and personal details or make payments in the name of technical support, account protection or avoiding fabricated penalties.

Investigators further revealed that the fraudulently obtained funds were routed through banking channels, digital wallets and mule accounts before being converted into cryptocurrency, particularly USDT. The money was then layered repeatedly to hide its origin and make tracing difficult. Officials stressed that the racket appeared to be fully digital in nature, with no cash transactions involved, underlining the sophistication and scale of the operation. Early estimates indicate that the transactions handled through the network may run into several crores of rupees.

A formal case has been registered under relevant provisions relating to cheating, criminal conspiracy and the Information Technology Act. Police said follow-up raids are underway to nab other suspects linked to the network, while forensic examination of the seized devices has already begun. Investigators are also working to identify victims, trace financial flows and map the broader national and international connections of the syndicate. The crackdown is being seen as a significant breakthrough in the fight against organised cybercrime in Jammu and Kashmir.