Dhanbad News: Nine Cyber Fraudsters Arrested in Dhanbad, Hawala Network Busted

Dhanbad Police Recover Cash, Devices, and ATM Cards Used in Cybercrime Operations

Dhanbad, October 7, 2025: In a major breakthrough against cybercrime in Jharkhand, Dhanbad Police arrested nine cyber fraudsters during a late-night raid at The Hotel Castle located in the Bank More police station area. The operation, led by the City Superintendent of Police, was carried out following a confidential tip-off about a group involved in large-scale online fraud and illegal money transfers through hawala networks.

Police seized ₹5,80,700 in cash, 17 mobile phones, 23 ATM cards from various banks, one Apple iPad, and one Dell laptop from the suspects.

Cyber Fraudsters in Dhanbad Used Fake Bank Accounts and APK Files for OTP Forwarding

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prabhat Kumar, the arrested individuals were found operating an organized cyber fraud network using fake bank accounts and APK files designed to automatically forward bank transaction OTPs (One-Time Passwords). This allowed the fraudsters to gain control of victims’ bank accounts and siphon off money undetected.

The accused were reportedly using multiple digital platforms and forged documents to open bank accounts under different names. Police officials stated that the group was running a coordinated online scam operation from the hotel room.

Hawala Network Used to Launder Cyber Fraud Money via Cryptocurrency

Investigations revealed that the fraudulently obtained funds were converted into USDT cryptocurrency before being transferred through hawala channels to various domestic and international locations. The money was later withdrawn in cash by local agents using dummy accounts, highlighting a sophisticated hawala-cybercrime nexus operating in the region.

The police have begun tracing the hawala agents and locations involved in the laundering process. The seized laptops and mobile phones are being sent for forensic examination to uncover the entire chain of transactions and the extent of the cyber fraud network.

Arrested Cyber Criminals from Dhanbad, Bokaro, and West Bengal

The arrested accused have been identified as:

1. Kumar Vishal Singh (Pathaldih, Dhanbad)
2. Arnav Kumar Roy (Howrah, West Bengal)
3. Sumit Kumar (Pathaldih, Dhanbad)
4. Rizwan Khan (Chas, Bokaro)
5. Rahul Kumar Roy (Swardih, Dhanbad)
6. Vishal Kumar (Nonia Patti, Dhanbad)
7. Mohammad Asif (Sultan Nagar, Bokaro)
8. Mohammad Mobassir Alam (Kamar Makdumi Road, Dhanbad)
9. Rajkumar Singh (Kailash Nagar, Bokaro)

Preliminary analysis of the seized digital evidence indicates links to bank accounts and ATM cards already flagged in cyber fraud complaints on the NCRP and JMIS portals.

Police officials confirmed that forensic analysis and technical tracking will help expose the complete hawala network and the financial routes used to launder cybercrime proceeds.