CBI Chargesheet Targets Chinese Nationals in ₹1,000 Crore Digital Fraud Network

The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a major chargesheet in a massive cybercrime case. Officials confirmed the action on Sunday. The case involves a shocking ₹1,000 crore fraud network.

Seventeen individuals and fifty-eight companies are named in the document. Four Chinese nationals are among the accused. The syndicate used over 100 shell companies to hide its operations.

Elaborate Scam Used Digital Tools and Mule Accounts

The CBI probe revealed a highly organized criminal operation. It began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The network ran various online scams to cheat Indian citizens.

These included fake loan apps and bogus investment schemes. Fraudulent job offers and online gaming platforms were also used. According to the CBI, the Chinese handlers directed Indian associates to set up shell companies.

These entities were created with forged documents and dummy directors. They opened bank and merchant accounts to layer the illicit funds. One mule account alone received over ₹152 crore.

Foreign Control and Lasting Impact on Cyber Security

The investigation highlights significant foreign control of the scam. The CBI found real-time operational oversight from outside India. A UPI ID linked to the fraud was active abroad as recently as August 2025.

This case shows the sophistication of modern financial cybercrime. The group used Google ads, bulk SMS, and cloud infrastructure. Each step was designed to hide the true controllers from law enforcement.

The crackdown began after analysis by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. It shows how isolated complaints can reveal a larger conspiracy. The CBI conducted searches across six states to gather evidence.

This landmark CBI chargesheet exposes the depth of transnational digital fraud. It underscores the critical need for vigilant financial and cyber security measures nationwide.

Info at your fingertips

Q1: What was the main method used in this cyber fraud?

The group used a wide network of shell companies and mule bank accounts. They layered the illicit money through 111 different corporate entities to hide its origin and destination.

Q2: How much money was involved in this scam?

Investigators estimate the syndicate siphoned over ₹1,000 crore (over $120 million). One single bank account received more than ₹152 crore in a short period.

Q3: What types of scams did the network run?

They operated fake loan applications, fraudulent investment schemes, and Ponzi models. The network also posted bogus part-time job offers and ran deceptive online gaming platforms.

Q4: How were the Chinese nationals involved?

The CBI alleges four Chinese handlers directed the entire operation from abroad. Indian associates set up the shell company infrastructure based on their instructions to launder the money.

Q5: When did this investigation start?

The CBI launched the probe based on inputs from the national cybercrime coordination center. They made initial arrests in October after noticing similar patterns in numerous citizen complaints.

Q6: What evidence proves foreign control of the scam?

The agency cited a UPI ID linked to Indian accused that was active from a foreign location in August 2025. This showed continued real-time operational control from outside the country.