New Delhi: Delhi Police has launched a major crackdown on organised cybercrime networks, arresting 944 people during Operation CyHawk-6.0. The two-day operation, conducted on October 28 and 29, 2026, targeted the entire ecosystem behind online fraud, including suppliers of bank accounts and fake SIM cards, suspected bank insiders, illegal call centres and networks involved in laundering stolen money.
The operation also resulted in 788 people being bound down and notices being issued to another 2,081 individuals. Police teams uncovered 4,002 cybercrime complaints involving alleged fraud worth approximately ₹479.14 crore.
Addressing a press conference at Delhi Police Headquarters, Joint Commissioner of Police (IFSO) Chinmoy Biswal and Joint Commissioner of Police, New Delhi Range, Nupur Prasad, shared details of the operation. Police took action in 1,032 cases, comprising 596 newly registered FIRs, 432 previously registered cases and four proceedings under preventive provisions.
283 Teams Conduct Raids Across 17 States and Five Union Territories
The operation extended beyond Delhi, with 283 specialised police teams conducting raids across 17 states and five Union Territories. The coordinated action targeted networks operating across different regions, where criminals allegedly used bank accounts spread across multiple states to transfer money obtained through online fraud.
Police operations covered locations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha, among other regions.
Investigators reached several organised networks, including a credit card fraud group linked to Jamtara operating in Dhanbad, a marriage-related fraud network in Durg-Bhilai, bank account suppliers in Kanpur and Greater Noida, and individuals allegedly arranging accounts in Mumbai, Lucknow, Rajasthan and Punjab.
How Did Police Target the Entire Cybercrime Network?
The investigation revealed that organised cyber fraud involves multiple participants performing specialised roles rather than relying on a single person making fraudulent calls.
According to police, some individuals allegedly established fake companies to open bank accounts, while others supplied accounts for commissions. Certain suspects were accused of helping bypass banking procedures, arranging additional SIM cards in customers’ names or providing personal data for fraudulent activities.
The money collected through these accounts was allegedly withdrawn through ATMs and cheques or converted into cash, gold and USDT cryptocurrency to conceal its origin.
This time, Delhi Police focused on dismantling the financial and technical infrastructure supporting these operations. The North-West District investigated alleged involvement of bank officials in facilitating mule accounts. The South District acted against employees of service agencies accused of misusing customers’ personal information, while the Outer-North District exposed a network allegedly obtaining SIM cards fraudulently using other people’s identities.
The South-West and North districts also traced multiple layers of bank accounts through which proceeds of cyber fraud were allegedly transferred.
Action Against Fake Apps, Digital Arrest and Investment Frauds
Police teams uncovered several types of cybercrime during the operation. The South-West District targeted fraudsters allegedly using fake mobile applications and phishing messages, while Shahdara District acted against those involved in fraudulent KYC-related calls.
The Central, Shahdara and South-East districts took action against gangs posing as corporate executives, government employees and representatives of payment companies to deceive people.
साइबर अपराधियों के साम्राज्य पर दिल्ली पुलिस का महाप्रहार, ऑपरेशन साइहॉक-6.0 में 944 गिरफ्तार 479 करोड़ रुपये की साइबर ठगी का पर्दाफाश, 1,032 मुकदमे दर्ज; 17 राज्यों और 5 केंद्रशासित प्रदेशों में 283 पुलिस टीमों ने मचाई हलचल बैंक खाते बेचने वालों से लेकर फर्जी सिम सप्लायर, बैंक कर्मचारियों और अवैध कॉल सेंटर संचालकों तक पर शिकंजा; 4,002 साइबर शिकायतों का खुलासा, 1,037 मोबाइल फोन और 1,301 सिम कार्ड समेत भारी सामान बरामद @PankajRaiMedia #cybercrime #delhipolice
— Janbhawna Times (@JanBhawanaTimes) October 30, 2026
The South District also acted on cyber tipline inputs concerning child sexual abuse material.
Fake Call Centres and SIM Box Networks Exposed
Criminal networks were also found using unusual methods to avoid police surveillance. The East District uncovered an illegal call centre allegedly operating from a moving vehicle instead of a fixed location, making it difficult to trace its operations.
The Dwarka and South-West districts also acted against illegal call centres allegedly targeting citizens and businesses across the country.
The IFSO unit of the Special Cell recovered six SIM boxes allegedly used for generating fraudulent and bulk phone calls. Police also took action against Telegram channels involved in the alleged trade of fake investment links, cryptocurrency, e-SIM cards and bank accounts.
Over 1,000 Mobile Phones and 1,300 SIM Cards Recovered
The operation resulted in the recovery of a substantial quantity of electronic equipment, financial documents and other suspected crime-related material.
According to Delhi Police, the seizures included:
1,037 mobile phones and 1,301 SIM cards.
106 laptops and computers.
397 ATM cards.
More than 244 bank kits and passbooks.
325 Aadhaar cards.
Six SIM boxes.
11 cars and 10 two-wheelers.
₹37.67 lakh in cash, along with gold and USDT cryptocurrency.
The Central, North-West, South and South-West districts played an important role in tracing properties allegedly purchased with proceeds of cybercrime and identifying assets linked to fraudulent activities.
Nearly 5,000 Suspects Verified During the Operation
All 15 Delhi police districts, the Cyber Unit of the Crime Branch and the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Special Cell participated in the campaign.
A total of 4,979 suspects were detained or stopped for identity and activity verification. Delhi Police reported that, compared with the fifth phase of Operation CyHawk, the latest drive recorded an approximately 24 per cent rise in newly registered cases, a 46 per cent increase in resolved cybercrime complaints and a 57 per cent rise in action on complaints originating from outside Delhi.
Across all six phases of Operation CyHawk, the total number of arrests has crossed 3,300.
Technology and Intelligence Strengthen Investigations
Police relied on digital intelligence and data analysis to identify suspects and establish links between cybercrime complaints. Information received from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), along with data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, Samanvaya Portal and Pratibimb Portal, was analysed.
Investigators examined connections between bank accounts, IFSC codes and mobile numbers to identify individuals whose details repeatedly appeared in multiple cyber fraud complaints.
The IFSO unit also held coordination meetings with more than 70 representatives from banks, payment gateways, telecom service providers and technology intermediaries. The discussions aimed to improve information-sharing and speed up investigations into digital arrest scams and fraud involving non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
Operation to Continue Against Organised Cybercrime
Delhi Police said Operation CyHawk would continue as a regular, intelligence-led campaign. Further investigations will focus on identifying overseas operators and gang leaders, tracing the complete flow of fraudulent funds, seizing properties acquired through criminal proceeds and helping victims recover their money.
Delhi Police Issues Safety Advisory for Citizens
Police have urged citizens not to hand over their bank accounts, ATM cards, chequebooks, SIM cards or bank kits to anyone in exchange for commission. If such accounts are used for cyber fraud, their holders may also face legal action.
People have also been advised not to hand over their mobile phones to unknown individuals on the pretext of updating KYC details or repairing QR codes and sound boxes. Citizens should never share OTPs, PINs or bank card details with anyone.
Police have further cautioned against investment offers, online shopping deals and work-from-home opportunities promising unusually high returns through social media.
Anyone who becomes a victim of cyber fraud should immediately call 1930 or register a complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in. Prompt reporting can improve the chances of getting the fraudulent amount frozen in the concerned bank accounts.
