Voice cloning, digital arrest and WhatsApp-based fraud among cases; police uncover alleged links to international cyber fraud networks
Nagpur: In a major crackdown on cybercrime, Nagpur City Cyber Police have arrested seven accused within seven days through coordinated operations conducted by four different teams across multiple cities.
The operations led to the detection of four cybercrime cases involving voice cloning, digital arrest, fake investment platforms and WhatsApp-based impersonation. The investigations also revealed suspected links between some accused and international cyber fraud networks operating through Hong Kong and Dubai.
In one case, a Nagpur resident was allegedly cheated of ₹50 lakh after cybercriminals used artificial intelligence-based voice cloning technology to imitate the voice of a socially prominent person. The fraudsters allegedly used the impersonated voice to create an emergency situation and demand money.
Police traced the accused to Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and arrested him on October 28. Two mobile phones were seized.
In another major case, a Bajaj Nagar resident was allegedly cheated of approximately ₹32.87 crore through fake online share-trading and investment platforms. The victim was reportedly lured through fraudulent investment advertisements on Instagram and subsequently added to a fake trading channel, where attractive returns were promised.
During the investigation, police arrested two additional accused from the Mumbai region on October 30. Investigators reportedly found suspected connections with international cyber fraud networks linked to Hong Kong and Dubai.
The police seized several electronic devices and financial documents, including mobile phones, SIM cards, laptops, digital signature certificate tokens, bank cheque books, debit cards and identity documents. The seized material was valued at approximately ₹20 lakh.
In a digital arrest case, a Nagpur resident was allegedly threatened by individuals posing as National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials. The fraudsters reportedly claimed that the victim had links with terrorists and used forged documents and video calls to intimidate him.
Under the pretext of a digital arrest, the victim was allegedly forced to transfer ₹1.04 crore through RTGS transactions into multiple bank accounts.
Two accused were arrested from Mumbai on October 28 as part of the investigation.
In the fourth case, the manager of a Union Bank branch in Jaripatka was allegedly cheated of ₹9.5 lakh. An individual posing as an employee of a motor company reportedly contacted him, sent a fraudulent APK file through WhatsApp and persuaded him to transfer money through RTGS.
The accused was traced to Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and arrested on October 30.
The four cases together involve alleged financial losses of approximately ₹34.51 crore.
The operations were conducted under the guidance of senior Nagpur Police officials, including Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil, Joint Commissioner Navinchandra Reddy and other senior officers.
The coordinated crackdown highlights the growing complexity of cybercrime, where criminals are increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence, digital impersonation, fake investment platforms and social engineering to target unsuspecting citizens.
