Ahmedabad: In one of the largest cyber fraud busts in recent times, Gujarat Police arrested 17 individuals, including four Taiwanese nationals, for orchestrating a nationwide “digital arrest” scam. The gang primarily targeted elderly citizens, tricking them into believing they were under investigation for crimes like money laundering and drug trafficking, and then extorted money under the pretext of dropping charges, reports the Hindustan Times.
The Taiwanese nationals, identified as Mu Chi Sang (42), Chang Hu Yun (33), Wang Chun Wei (26), and Shen Wei (35), played a crucial role in overseeing the technical operations of the scam. They were apprehended after coordinated raids in Delhi and Bengaluru, following extensive surveillance. According to Crime Branch (Ahmedabad) joint commissioner Sharad Singhal, the accused had been visiting India for over a year, providing mobile applications and technical expertise to the gang, facilitating illegal money transfers.
Authorities uncovered that the scam involved over 1,000 victims across the country. The fraudsters, posing as officials from regulatory agencies such as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), falsely claimed the victims’ phone numbers were linked to criminal activities. Victims were then coerced into paying large sums to resolve these fabricated charges.
During the investigation, police seized 761 SIM cards, 120 mobile phones, 96 chequebooks, 92 debit and credit cards, and various electronic devices used in the operation. One of the victims, an elderly citizen, was reportedly held “digitally arrested” for 10 days and forced to pay ₹79.34 lakh as a refundable fee.
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The scam involved sophisticated techniques, including the use of rooted mobile phones and mini-computers, allowing the gang to remotely access one-time passwords (OTPs) and siphon funds from bank accounts. The Taiwanese operatives provided technical infrastructure, enabling illegal transactions and operations that extended beyond India, with links to Cambodia, Dubai, and China.
The case highlights the growing complexity of cybercrime, with Commissioner Singhal calling it one of the most organized scams targeting vulnerable sections of society. The investigation is ongoing, with further leads suggesting more international connections to the racket.
