A coordinated intelligence-led operation has led to the arrest of 2 individuals allegedly involved in an organised cyberfraud network operating on a service-based model, highlighting a growing and dangerous shift in digital crime.
The Cyber Centre of Excellence under CID Crime, Gandhinagar, on Tuesday arrested the accused from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh after technical tracking and intelligence inputs. Officials said the arrests are linked to an emerging criminal model known as ‘Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS)’.
Police explained that CaaS involves cybercriminals offering backend tools such as virtual mobile numbers, one-time passwords, fake identities, and digital infrastructure to other fraudsters. This setup enables people with limited technical knowledge to carry out large-scale cyber offences, including phishing, threat calls, and online scams.
According to CID Crime officials, the arrested persons — Abdesh Singh and Shivam Rawat, both residents of Gwalior — allegedly operated 2 websites along with related Telegram channels. These platforms were reportedly used to supply virtual numbers and OTPs to cybercriminals across India and overseas. Investigators believe the duo was supported by additional associates.
Preliminary findings suggest the accused also targeted e-commerce platforms by enabling fake account creation and facilitating financial fraud. Examination of seized digital devices and banking records revealed transactions worth ₹17.54 lakh through Indian bank accounts, along with nearly ₹20 lakh in USDT cryptocurrency.
Officials said the accused hosted at least 7 websites on foreign servers, making monitoring and takedown efforts more complex. The infrastructure was allegedly built to bypass verification systems and allow anonymous cyber activities, including email extortion, online cheating, and threat calls.
Police noted that the case reflects how cybercrime is increasingly evolving into a structured service-based ecosystem, similar to legitimate online businesses. By selling tools and access, CaaS operators lower entry barriers for criminals and significantly widen the reach of cyberfraud networks.
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