Mining engineer-turned-fraudster from Jamtara syndicate dupes woman of Rs 8.10 lakh, arrested

The Delhi Police have arrested a mining engineer-turned-cyber fraudster linked to the notorious Jamtara cyber syndicate for allegedly cheating a woman of Rs 8.10 lakh. The arrest followed a coordinated multi-state operation spanning Jharkhand, West Bengal and Mizoram, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Ajay Kumar Mandal, used sophisticated digital tactics to defraud the woman by posing as a bank official and convincing her to complete a fake Know Your Customer (KYC) process. He reportedly tricked the victim into installing a remote-access application on her phone, which he then used to gain full control of the device and siphon off funds from her bank account.

According to investigators, the stolen money was used to purchase seven high-end Apple iPhones and a MacBook through various e-commerce platforms, using digital vouchers to mask the transactions and evade detection.

“Despite using fake identities, proxy mobile numbers and multiple IP addresses to cover his tracks, Mandal was traced through meticulous cyber forensic analysis involving IP logs, SIM activity and IMEI tracking,” said a senior police officer.

A crucial lead came when two suspicious mobile numbers operating from Giridih, Jharkhand, were flagged. After narrowing down the location and confirming the identity of the accused, Mandal was arrested, and one of the iPhones purchased with the stolen money was recovered from his possession.

Mandal, a diploma holder in mining engineering, is believed to be the main executor of the fraud and has a deep understanding of digital systems, cyber manipulation and concealment techniques. The police said he is part of a larger fraud network operating from Jamtara, a region infamously known as India’s cybercrime hub.

Further investigation is underway and more arrests and recoveries are expected in the coming days.

Delhi