17 arrestedin ‘cash on delivery’ scam

Kolkata: Kolkata Police have dismantled a sophisticated nationwide cybercrime syndicate operating from two addresses in south Kolkata that exploited the popular "cash on delivery" (COD) system to defraud online shoppers across India.In a series of coordinated raids conducted on Tuesday night, investigators busted two illegal call centres operating out of high-end neighbourhoods in south Kolkata, leading to the arrest of 17 individuals, including nine women. The operation, which targeted hubs in Gariahat's Hindustan Park and Ballygunge Station Road, marks a significant victory against what officials are describing as a rampant wave of "digital dacoity". TOI on Wednesday reported about the raids and subsequent arrest of 17 persons in this regard.The crackdown was initiated following actionable intelligence provided by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). A detailed technical analysis of suspicious mobile numbers linked the syndicate to at least 50 complaints lodged on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), with a heavy concentration of victims located in northern India. Among those apprehended is Avik Bose, whom police identified as a repeat offender previously arrested for similar cybercrimes in 2024. During the raids, authorities seized an extensive cache of equipment, including 47 fixed wireless phones, 43 mobile handsets, 14 active SIM cards and a laptop containing a massive database of potential targets.According to Lalbazar sources, the questioning of the accused has revealed the gang's modus operandi relied on the theft of digital information to identify customers who had recently placed COD orders on various e-commerce platforms.Impersonating executives from reputable courier and e-commerce companies, the fraudsters would contact buyers before the legitimate delivery could take place. Using fake documents and corporate logos to establish trust, they pressured victims to pay via QR codes or mobile numbers under various pretexts, such as processing "COD advances," facilitating refunds or securing lucrative cashback offers."The deception typically went unnoticed until the actual delivery agent from the genuine e-commerce company arrived at the victim's doorstep. It was only then that customers realised the person they had electronically transferred money to was an impostor and that their funds had been diverted into illegally procured bank accounts," said joint CP (crime) Soma Das Mitra.A senior police officer noted that the syndicate utilised a blend of human intelligence and advanced technology to target victims on a national scale. The timing of the bust is particularly noteworthy as the city remains under a high-security blanket due to the ongoing election process. In light of these arrests, Kolkata Police have issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls demanding advance payments for COD orders. Authorities emphasised that verifying the identity of delivery personnel and refusing to share sensitive financial data or scan unsolicited QR codes remains the first line of defence against such predatory networks.
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