Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 16: An emerging trend has come to light in which criminal groups from Gujarat are allegedly using Goa as a safe operational hub to run cyber frauds and organised scams targeting victims across India and abroad.

In two separate enforcement actions this week, cybercrime units from both Goa and Gujarat carried out coordinated operations leading to multiple arrests.

In the first case, the Goa Cyber Crime Police arrested four individuals from Gujarat who were allegedly operating a fake call centre from a rented premises in Karmali. Investigators said the group was running a “payday loan” scam primarily targeting victims in the United States.

In a parallel operation, the Cyber Centre of Excellence under the Gujarat Police conducted a raid in Arpora, Goa, and arrested eight more accused, also natives of Gujarat. Officials stated that this module was involved in cyber fraud schemes amounting to over Rs 77 crore, with most victims reportedly based in Gujarat.

According to police sources, both groups were operating remotely from Goa while targeting individuals outside the state, exploiting rented premises and digital communication tools to avoid detection.

Authorities also noted that similar patterns had been observed earlier, where certain gangs allegedly used Goa as a base to target businessmen in their home state through fabricated criminal cases, including false rape allegations, in order to extort money through settlements. However, officials said such activities declined after sustained crackdowns and arrests by Goa Police.

In another development, law enforcement officials claimed that after a targeted crackdown on cricket betting networks linked to Gujarat last year, no new betting-related cases have been reported in Goa during the ongoing Indian Premier League season so far.

Investigations in both cyber fraud cases are continuing, and authorities are working to trace additional suspects and financial links connected to the scams.