Panna police have successfully dismantled an international cyber fraud network operating from Thailand and Cambodia, arresting two individuals from Mumbai in connection with a Rs 14 lakh digital arrest scam. The operation uncovered a sophisticated racket involving SIM boxes and foreign handlers, revealing the depth of the fraud. The accused, identified as Rishikesh Hasurkar (27) from Kolhapur and Suresh Gudimani (31) from Karnataka, confessed to collaborating with overseas operatives via the Telegram messaging app to carry out the scam. The fraud involved impersonating law enforcement officials and threatening victims with a "digital arrest" over fabricated criminal charges, coercing them into transferring money to avoid the alleged arrest. Investigations revealed that the accused used banned SIM boxes imported from Thailand to disguise international calls as local numbers, making the fraudulent activity harder to trace. During the raid, police seized 12 SIM boxes, over 1,700 Airtel SIM cards, various electronic devices, Rs 1.5 lakh in cash, foreign currency, and incriminating documents worth Rs 27.10 lakh. The accused disclosed that they were operating under the direction of a Thailand-based handler known as "Boss," who supplied the SIM boxes and facilitated payments in foreign currency. Authorities suspect deeper ties to larger cybercrime syndicates and are now coordinating with national agencies, including the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), to uncover additional connections. This case highlights the growing threat of transnational cyber fraud networks targeting individuals across India. The police have urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious against such scams. Investigations are ongoing, with more arrests expected as the probe continues.

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