Jharsuguda, Nov 19: The Jharsuguda Police dismantled a major inter-state cyber fraud group on Tuesday, arresting 12 individuals, including two minors. The crackdown followed a focused operation targeting organised digital fraud networks operating in the region.

Seized during the operation were over 61 bank passbooks from multiple banks, 41 ATM cards, 90 mobile phones, and a car believed to have been used in the fraud activities. The police’s swift action has revealed the extensive scale of the network, which spanned several states.

According to the police, the cyber fraud operation had extensive connections across various states, including Jharkhand, Bihar, and Rajasthan regions notorious for harbouring cybercriminal clusters. The fraudsters in Jharsuguda were reportedly managing various aspects of the operation remotely, coordinating with agents in other parts of the country.

The gang allegedly lured unsuspecting individuals by offering enticing returns through online gaming. Once the victims were hooked, they were persuaded to open bank accounts in their names, which were then used to channel and launder fraudulent funds, creating a sophisticated illegal financial network.

Jharsuguda SP Gundala Reddy Raghavendra confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing and that further arrests are anticipated as law enforcement continues to dismantle the criminal network.