3 cybercriminals arrested in Jamtara for duping bank customers

Dumka: Jamtara police have arrested three men, including two siblings, for alleged cyber fraud, police said on Sunday.

DSP (cyber) Amit Ravidas told reporters on Sunday that the arrests followed a tip-off received by Jamtara SP Shambhu Kumar Singh, prompting searches in Pindari, Sakalpur, Tilaiya and Barmundi villages under Karmatanr police station limits.

During the operation, brothers Pritam Das, 25, and Vinod Das, 23, of Pindari were taken into custody, and Mohammad Toofan alias Toofan Ansari, 28, was arrested from Barmundi.

Police recovered 10 mobile phones and 10 SIM cards from the accused, which were allegedly used to carry out fraud by targeting bank customers.

“These cybercriminals targeted customers of different banks by calling them randomly and claiming their debit or credit cards had been blocked. Posing as bank representatives, they convinced victims to get a new card and then obtained confidential details such as card numbers, OTPs and credit card validation codes,” Ravidas said.

Using the stolen information and e-wallets, the gang siphoned off money from victims’ accounts, he added.

Police said the victims were located across several states. Cyber police have registered a case. Further investigation is on to trace other members of the network and map the gang’s connections.

Ravidas appealed to the public to remember that banks never call customers to ask for card numbers, OTPs or other confidential information.