Kerala police report booking 455 cases and arresting 165 individuals in a recent statewide operation targeting cyber financial fraud. This extensive police action, codenamed 'Operation Cy-Hunt 2.0', reportedly involved widespread raids, targeting both individuals who withdrew illegally obtained funds and those who provided "mule" bank accounts for illicit transactions. The operation, executed on March 5th across all police station limits, is presented as a significant move to combat escalating online financial crimes within the state.
The police claim to have conducted 1,168 raids, issued notices to 216 individuals, and seized approximately 306 electronic devices suspected of being used in fraudulent activities. Intelligence analysis reportedly identified 422 mule bank accounts connected to cyber fraud, forming a key focus for investigators. The stated aim was to disrupt criminal networks and enhance online safety and security.
Within the broader sweep, specific districts saw varied numbers. The Kochi City Police, for instance, reported booking 10 cases and arresting eight people in six cases after conducting raids at 50 locations. Conversely, the Rural police claimed to have registered 36 cases in their jurisdiction. This distinction highlights a fragmented, though coordinated, approach to the operation.
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This current operation follows a prior drive where, according to reports, 382 cases were registered and 263 accused individuals were apprehended. In that earlier effort, the Rural police had arrested 43 accused across 23 cases, which was noted as the highest in the state at the time. The consistency in numbers between the two operations – 165 arrests now versus 263 previously, and 455 cases now versus 382 previously – suggests a persistent and possibly escalating issue with cyber financial fraud.
The nature of the crackdown appears to focus on the mechanics of illicit fund movement, specifically targeting individuals acting as intermediaries, often referred to as 'money mules', and the accounts they utilize. This suggests a strategy to dismantle the financial conduits of cyber fraud rather than solely focusing on the perpetrators of the initial scams. The involvement of electronic devices seized also points towards an effort to gather evidence and trace the digital footprint of these activities.
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Background information suggests that similar large-scale cybercrime operations are occurring internationally. Notably, an INTERPOL-coordinated operation in Africa, 'Operation Serengeti 2.0', reportedly led to over 1,200 arrests and the seizure of numerous malicious online infrastructures across 18 African nations and the UK. This global context implies that cyber financial fraud is a widespread and interconnected problem, extending beyond state borders and requiring multi-jurisdictional and international cooperation to address effectively.