Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Special Task Force (STF) investigating the massive ‘investment fraud scam’ has unearthed a crucial link to a cybercrime racket involving "digital arrest", in which a Navi Mumbai resident was cheated of ₹1.88 crore, officials said on Thursday.
The new revelation comes days after the STF busted the inter-state investment fraud gang and arrested two accused involved in the case. Now, officials say, the case has taken a new turn with the discovery of their involvement in cybercrimes like digital arrest.
According to STF officials, the Navi Mumbai Police had registered a case of digital arrest, in which the victim was forced to deposit ₹1.88 crore into one of the company’s accounts. The gang had allegedly siphoned off the money under threat and intimidation—a method commonly seen in digital arrest scams.
Following this, the STF is now working to trace how much money linked to such cybercrimes—including digital arrest—has been funnelled into the gang’s company bank accounts across other states as well.
Initially, investigators found that transactions worth around ₹2,400 crore had taken place over just eight months through the bank accounts of two companies operated by the gang. This money was collected from unsuspecting victims under the guise of foreign exchange investment.
In a major breakthrough, the STF has managed to seize ₹100 crore deposited in different banks across the country. Officials say more arrests are likely in the coming days as the investigation widens.
Probe on
Special DG, STF, Pankaj Shrivastava said, "Investigation was going on about the gang regarding investment fraud in the name of foreign exchange. Now evidence has been found of their involvement in crimes like digital arrest. We are investigating from new angles as well."
