Barbil Police Bust Online Fraud Syndicate, Arrest 25-Year-Old Mastermind
Barbil: — In a decisive crackdown on cybercrime, Barbil Police arrested a 25-year-old young man accused of orchestrating a sophisticated online fraud network through multiple mule bank accounts and suspicious digital transactions.
The accused, Vishal Sao, son of Kanheiyalal Sao and resident of Sri Ram Nagar, Ward No.04, Barbil, was apprehended late Tuesday night following a meticulous investigation led by SI D. Raulo and his team.
The case, registered as Barbil PS Case No-449 dated 03.12.2025 under sections 318/336/340/61(2)/3(5) of BNS, unfolded after leading banks, including State Bank of India, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and ICICI Bank, flagged irregular activities linked to Sao’s accounts.
Investigators revealed that several accounts had already been lien-marked by bank authorities. Neighbours disclosed that Sao had no permanent occupation, often remained absent from home, and claimed to be engaged in an “online business” that allegedly yielded high profits.
His lavish lifestyle raised suspicions, and further scrutiny exposed his manipulation of documents with associates to create mule accounts essential for online fraud. Police also noted that he frequently changed his location to evade arrest.
During the operation, police seized a cache of high-end gadgets, including a Realme 12 Pro+ 5G mobile phone, OnePlus 9 Pro, OnePlus 15, Realme Pad X, Lenovo Legion 5 Pro laptop, and a Sandisk 128 GB pendrive.
Nine bank accounts in his name were suspended, and investigators uncovered links to a syndicate operating outside Odisha, along with ongoing transactions through the Chinese loan app “Hypee.”
Authorities believe that arranging mule accounts was Sao’s prime role in the fraud network. His arrest marks a significant step in dismantling cyber syndicates that exploit financial systems and unsuspecting citizens.
Barbil Police confirmed that further investigation is underway to trace his associates and uncover the full extent of the scam.
