Bengaluru police have arrested nine individuals

They were involved in a staggering 2,143 cybercrime cases

Total of 265 cases registered in this scam across Karnataka

Bengaluru police have dismantled a nationwide work-from-home scam amounting to Rs 158 crore, resulting in the arrest of nine individuals. The investigation was initiated following a complaint filed by a resident of Vidyaranyapura.

Upon closer examination, it was discovered that the apprehended suspects were involved in a staggering 2,143 cybercrime cases reported across 28 states through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

Reportedly, Central Crime Branch (CCB) officials disclosed that among those taken into custody were Amir Sohail and Inayat Khan from Bengaluru, Syed Abbas Ali, Nayaz, and Adil from Hyderabad, as well as Mithun Manish Shah, Naina Raj, Satish, and Mihir Shashikanth Shah from Mumbai. Two additional suspects are still evading authorities.

Operating under the guise of offering lucrative work-from-home opportunities, the suspects utilized dubious phone numbers to communicate with potential victims via platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. After convincing individuals to invest, they instructed them to complete seemingly simple tasks such as liking YouTube videos or installing apps, promising monetary rewards upon completion.

While victims observed their digital wallets being credited at various intervals, complications arose when attempting to withdraw funds. Victims realized they had fallen victim to a scam upon discovering that these digital accounts were fraudulent, prompting them to file police reports.

A total of 265 cases were registered in various districts of Karnataka, with Bengaluru alone contributing 135 cases across 14 police stations.