Ahmedabad 'Boss Scam': Cybercrime ring with Pakistan, China links busted

Ahmedabad Police have busted a major international cybercrime network, the 'Boss Scam', with links to Pakistan and China. Two people were arrested from West Bengal for providing infrastructure, 4,500 SIM cards, and 21,000 OTPs to cybercriminals.

Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police (CP) Anupam Singh Gehlot on Tuesday addressed a press conference regarding the high-profile 'Boss Scam' cybercrime cases, revealing a massive international network providing infrastructure for cyber frauds to elements in Pakistan and China.

Addressing the media, CP Anupam Singh Gehlot stated that the accused had been operating for the past 4 to 5 years. "So far, two arrests have been made from West Bengal, and our team is conducting further investigations. This group was essentially providing service, offering infrastructure to Pakistan and China to facilitate cyberattacks," the CP said.

Modus Operandi Explained

Explaining the modus operandi, the Commissioner said, "These individuals procured SIM cards and provided them to people sitting in other countries. They used Chinese malware and linked these to call centers operated from Islamabad. If a victim clicks on the provided link, these criminals facilitate illegal money transfers."

Massive Scale and Arrests

The investigation revealed that the scale of the scam is massive, with 251 complaints already registered against this group across 26 different states in India.

"We have arrested two individuals from West Bengal. During the raid, we recovered devices capable of operating four SIM cards simultaneously. They had procured 4,500 SIM cards for cyber fraud. Their call center was being operated from Islamabad," CP Gehlot added.

OTP Fraud and Evasion Tactics

The Commissioner further informed that the accused were involved in providing OTPs (One-Time Passwords) to cybercriminals. "They have provided approximately 21,000 OTPs so far. They shifted their operations from Telegram to WhatsApp groups to evade detection. The accused charged ₹100 per OTP. The investigation has unearthed a deep international connection," he said.

Network Infrastructure Dismantled

According to the police, the gang had connected nearly 10,000 devices, including laptops and mobile phones, to their network.

"We have now deactivated these devices. This is a significant blow to their infrastructure," the CP added.

Police Issue Public Warning

Issuing a warning to the public, CP Anupam Singh Gehlot urged citizens to remain vigilant. "Do not access any file or click on any link without proper verification. These links are the primary tools used for illegal money transfers," he cautioned.

Further investigation into the international modules and potential local accomplices is currently underway.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)