₹133 Crore Cyber Fraud Exposed in Odisha: A Major Scam Uncovered

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Massive Cybercrime Operation Uncovered in Odisha, India

A massive cybercrime operation has been uncovered in Odisha, India, with investigators tracing a money trail of over ₹133 crore across three districts. The crackdown, led by Odisha Police, has revealed a sophisticated network of mule accounts used to route illicit funds.

Investigation and Arrests

According to officials, data analysis from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) identified over 300 suspected mule accounts in Sambalpur district alone. Of these, 140 accounts have been verified, revealing transactions worth approximately ₹110.30 crore. The remaining accounts are currently under verification.

The investigation has led to the arrest of 20 individuals, with 32 others served notices. Transactions linked to just 52 of these accounts amount to around ₹75.36 crore, indicating the scale of the organized operation. In one notable case, police in Bargarh district busted a major mule account racket involving nearly ₹10 crore in fraudulent transactions.

Breakthroughs and Seizures

The operation has also led to the detection of nine additional cyber fraud cases worth over ₹5.03 crore. In a significant breakthrough, police arrested 35-year-old Manoj Kumar Kushal for allegedly opening and operating multiple bank accounts used to channel fraud proceeds. A raid on his premises resulted in the seizure of 57 passbooks, 19 cheque books, 81 ATM cards, and 26 SIM cards, pointing to a coordinated banking-kit based cyber network.

Across the district, authorities have verified 1,062 suspected mule accounts across banks. In Rourkela, intensified enforcement has led to the registration of 10 cybercrime cases. The operation aims to dismantle mule account networks and will continue until February 27.

Warning to Citizens

“Citizens have been advised to report cyber fraud immediately via the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930, the cybercrime.gov.in portal, or the nearest police station or cyber cell to enable timely fund tracing and recovery.”

The crackdown highlights the evolving nature of cybercrime, which has become an organized financial ecosystem using layered transactions, bank accounts, SIM cards, and fake identities to conceal money trails.

Authorities have indicated that further arrests are likely and that monitoring of banking and telecom channels will be intensified. The operation serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in preventing cybercrime and the need for citizens to report suspicious activity immediately.