In a major crackdown on cybercrime, Kolkata Cyber Police arrested five members of a sophisticated fraud syndicate on January 24. The operation uncovered a network using social media links to hack victims’ phones and siphon off their bank funds.
The case originated from a complaint filed on December 19 at the Kolkata Cyber Police Station. Following interrogations of previously arrested suspects and solid intelligence leads, officers raided a location in the Maheshtala police station area. The sweep netted five young men from different states, including Bihar and Maharashtra: 22-year-old Abhimanyu Kumar alias Raja Kumar, 22-year-old Sejen Phillips, 20-year-old Mohammad Samar, 28-year-old Neeraj Kumar, and 19-year-old Mohammad Imran.
Seized items included 10 laptops, 24 Android mobiles, two routers, and numerous incriminating screenshots. Initial probes reveal the gang crafted malicious APK files disguised as enticing offers or ads on social media platforms. Victims clicking these links unknowingly installed the malware, granting fraudsters remote access to their devices.
Once in control, the criminals accessed banking apps, UPI details, OTPs, and other sensitive data. They transferred funds to multiple accounts in their network without alerting victims, who often discovered the theft only after significant losses.
Police sources indicate this group operated under a larger organized crime ring, directly linked to earlier detainees. The investigation continues to dismantle the entire operation, highlighting the growing threat of tech-savvy scams targeting unsuspecting smartphone users across India.
Authorities urge the public to avoid downloading files from unknown sources and report suspicious links immediately. This bust serves as a stark reminder of the invisible dangers lurking on social media.