Saralnama
Bhopal has become a significant center for cyber and online trading scams, with multiple interstate fraud rackets busted over the past year, mostly by cybercrime units from other states. Organised gangs in the city have defrauded thousands nationwide through fake online trading schemes, job offers, and social media reward scams. Key incidents include a February 2025 raid on an Aishbagh call centre run by Afzal Khan and his daughter, which duped over 1,200 victims, and arrests by Uttar Pradesh STF and Kanpur cyber police of Bhopal-based fraudsters involved in scams worth crores. Despite these cases, local Bhopal police acknowledge limited awareness and action due to a lack of local complaints. The city’s cybercrime branch monitors data from the Joint Cyber Crime Coordination Team to identify suspects. Notable arrests include a fake job racket operator in July 2025 and individuals involved in trading and bank frauds. These developments highlight Bhopal’s growing role in cybercrime across India and the challenges faced by local authorities in curbing these activities. (Updated 27 Aug 2025, 03:56 IST; source: link)