Int'l cyber fraud ring busted in Jhunjhunu, 13 arrested

Jhunjhunu: In a breakthrough, the district police dismantled an international cyber fraud operation Monday, leading to the arrest of 13 individuals, including three women. The gang, which primarily targeted American citizens, operated under the guise of Microsoft customer support.

The operation, led by deputy superintendent of police (Rural) Hari Singh Dhayal, was jointly conducted by the Mandawa police and the district's cyber police station. The team seized substantial evidence, including 21 laptops, 21 mobile phones and various internet routers from a hotel on Fatehpur Road in Mandawa.

According to police officials, the gang operated through an app called Micro Sip, falsely presenting themselves as Microsoft customer care representatives based in Washington. Their modus operandi involved deceiving users experiencing problems with Microsoft and social media platforms, convincing them to download malicious software that would compromise their devices and personal information.

"The gang members would then exploit this access to commit cyber fraud," said Dy SP Dhayal. Police raid was conducted Sunday evening after receiving intelligence about suspicious activities at the hotel owned by local resident Haji Farooq Bhati.

The 13 arrested individuals, who were said to be based in Mandawa for approximately 15 days, include suspects from various states: Akash VK, Ramesh Gurung, Mouse Chingra and Jangminkhoy Dongal from Delhi, Kismat Gajner and Ashish Ojha from West Bengal, Monu Kumar from Uttar Pradesh, Amit Pol, Apsara Pradhan and Jubelia from Manipur, Kushal Thapa from Meghalaya, Patrick Jonusanga from Mizoram, and Chijoteu Lechu from Nagaland.

Police are currently pursuing two alleged masterminds who orchestrated the operation. While preliminary investigations suggest the gang had been operating from Mandawa for approximately two weeks, authorities are working to determine the full extent of their operations and the number of victims affected. The accused will be presented in court Tuesday as investigations continue.