Surat’s Olpad police has busted an international scam with the arrest of a six-member gang, which enticed people with promises of financial gains and opened bank accounts in their names for fraudulent cybercrimes.

The scam, purported to have been operating from Dubai, involved illegal transactions amounting to crores.

Five persons, including two based in Dubai, are declared wanted in this case.

According to Surat DSP (deputy superintendent of police) Hitesh Joysar, Olpad police received a tip-off about a duo, Bindesh Madadiya and Abhishek Chatrabhuj, who along with their accomplices, lured people into opening bank accounts by promising them commissions ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh.

Joysar added that the perpetrators collected account kits and sent them to Dubai. Using false identities on the internet, the perpetrators engaged in cybercrime and fraudulent activities.

The duo, along with their associates, were supposed to converge on the Olpad-Sayan road to exchange account kits and essential documents. Acting on the tip-off, the police arrived at the location, arrested the perpetrators, and seized the goods.

The police seized 27 mobile phones, 190 SIM cards of various companies, an Apple iPad, 11 bank account kits, 18 passbooks from different banks, 15 ATM and credit cards, Aadhaar cards, and a PAN card, which amounted to a total of ₹3,93,500.

It was found in the probe that they opened bank accounts using the registered mobile numbers of unsuspecting individuals and then forwarded the documents to Dubai. Here, these accounts were used for transactions involving gaming, cryptocurrency, and US dollars. The account holders received meagre amounts in return, while full responsibility for any illegal activities was thrust on them.

Police recovered account kits from the accused Milan and Vivek, who handed them over to Abhishek and subsequently to Bindesh, who sent them to Dubai.

This scam, operating for the past six months, is believed to have involved transactions amounting to ₹51 crore–₹52 crore.

Upon interrogation, the arrested individuals confessed to their role in the conspiracy and disclosed the involvement of two Dubai-based and three other accomplices. Consequently, the police have declared these five individuals wanted and have initiated further investigations.

Those arrested in this case:

Bindesh Madadiya (Kamrej; native: Junagadh)

Abhishek Chatrabhuj (Umra; native: Rajkot)

Vivek Bambhroliya (Kamrej; native: Junagadh)

Milan Bambhroliya (Kamrej; native: Junagadh)

Kalu Jadav (Varachha; native: Amreli)

Ronak Savaliya (Surat)