India, Aug. 1 -- In a significant breakthrough, the Raigad cyber police have dismantled a cyber fraud operation with nationwide and international links. Eleven individuals have been arrested for their involvement in the racket, which targeted elderly citizens by using fake identities of central government and law enforcement officials.

The gang operated using telecom-grade SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) infrastructure to impersonate officials from agencies such as the CBI, Supreme Court and cyber police.

The case came to light after a Raigad resident filed a complaint on May 23, stating that he had been defrauded of Rs.66 lakh. "He received multiple WhatsApp and voice calls from fraudsters posing as central government officials, who ...