DEHRADUN/NAINITAL, SEPTEMBER 7: In a major breakthrough against cybercrime, the Nainital Police have busted an international cyber fraud syndicate operating through mule bank accounts and unauthorised mobile applications under Operation Hotspot-2026.
Police arrested six accused, including the alleged kingpin of the network, while two juveniles were also detained during the operation.
The crackdown was carried out following an investigation into a network allegedly involved in routing proceeds of cyber fraud through mule bank accounts.
The accused were suspected of facilitating the movement and withdrawal of fraudulently obtained money, using bank accounts opened or operated for such transactions.
During the operation, police recovered cash, ATM cards, SIM cards and a laptop from the accused. The seized digital and financial material is being examined to establish the wider network and identify other persons involved.
Investigators suspect that the syndicate had international links, and police are probing the digital transactions, bank accounts, mobile numbers and applications allegedly used by the network.
The arrests are being viewed as a significant step in the district police's continuing campaign against organised cybercrime and financial fraud.
Police said further investigation is underway, and additional arrests and recoveries cannot be ruled out as the financial and digital trail of the syndicate is traced.
