Major Cyber Fraud Hub Discovered in Rajasthan’s Mewat Area: Rs 3.36 Billion Swindled by 74 Gangs
The Mewat area in the Dholpur district of Rajasthan has become a major hub for cyber fraud. This is evident from the fact that over four months, 74 gangs have defrauded a staggering ₹3.36 billion. Among those accused in cases filed at various police stations, Arif Khan from the Nagar police station is charged with defrauding ₹135 million, Javed from the Kama police station is accused of ₹116.9 million, Talim from the Kathwada police station has defrauded ₹78.5 million, and Taifool from the Sikri police station is implicated in a ₹73 million fraud. Together, these 74 gangs managed to swindle ₹3.36 billion between March and June.
The police stations in Dholpur district that have reported the highest number of cyber fraud cases include Dholpur Kotwali, Kama, Nagar, Pahari, Koh, Sikri, Kathwada, Jaluki, Juruha, and Gopalgarh. Ninety percent of these cases involve morphing people’s images with obscene videos. Additionally, scams have been carried out by enticing victims with offers to sell cars, high-speed bikes, and expensive phones at low prices on social media. There have also been cases of fraud through WhatsApp messages, luring individuals with lottery offers and pretending to book items online.
An operation called ‘Operation Antivirus’ is currently underway under the leadership of the Bharatpur Range IG. This campaign began on March 1, 2024, and has so far led to the registration of over 200 cases and the arrest of more than 700 suspects. The police claim that as a result of this initiative, cybercrime cases have decreased by 69% as of August.
According to IG Rahul Prakash, the investigation initially focused on the mobile IMEI numbers and SIM cards used by the cybercriminals for the fraud. When these IMEI numbers and SIM cards were linked to others used during the scams, it helped reveal the amounts that had been defrauded.
