NEW DELHI, Feb 3: The Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled a sprawling network involved in forging Kuwaiti e-visas and promoting fake jobs at well-known companies, part of an international crackdown on cross-border cybercrime dubbed “Operation CyStrike.”

Authorities conducted 35 simultaneous raids across Delhi and nine other states—including Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Telangana, and West Bengal—on January 30. The raids led to the arrest of a key cyber-fraudster and the seizure of computers, mobile phones, hard drives, forged documents including fake visas and employment letters, and approximately ₹60,000 in cash.

Investigations revealed that the accused had created fraudulent digital platforms impersonating official Kuwaiti e-visa service websites, luring victims with promises of jobs in reputed Kuwaiti companies, and financially exploiting them through coordinated online extortion schemes.

Officials confirmed that the gang had been targeting victims across multiple countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Singapore, often using fake bank accounts to evade detection and complicate legal action. A prominent fake website identified by authorities was eservicemoi-kw.com, used to host counterfeit work visas and fraudulent employment documents.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait warned travelers that the only official portal for electronic visa applications is www.indianvisaonline.gov.in, urging applicants to avoid unauthorized platforms. The embassy highlighted that reliance on fraudulent websites could result in financial loss, personal data misuse, and travel delays.

Authorities urged individuals to exercise caution, verify the credibility of visa service platforms, and report suspicious activity to prevent falling victim to cyber-fraud.