CyberFraud – Jaipur Police Bust Massive DGFT Portal Scam Linked Overseas

CyberFraud – Jaipur Police have exposed a large-scale cyber fraud operation involving the illegal manipulation of company director profiles on the DGFT portal, impacting hundreds of businesses across India. The scam, which investigators say has international connections, particularly to Dubai, has already led to significant financial losses running into crores of rupees. So far, five individuals have been taken into custody, with authorities continuing to track other members of the network.

Fraud Uncovered Across Hundreds of Companies

According to officials, the fraud involved tampering with director credentials of more than 400 companies registered on the Directorate General of Foreign Trade platform. By gaining unauthorized access, the accused were able to divert financial benefits meant for exporters. Police believe the operation was well-organized and executed through coordinated efforts across multiple locations.

Investigators revealed that the arrested individuals were part of a wider network, allegedly controlled from Dubai. The scale of the breach has raised concerns about vulnerabilities in digital systems used for international trade and export incentives.

Use of Fake Digital Signatures to Gain Access

The core of the scam revolved around the misuse of Digital Signature Certificates. The accused reportedly created these certificates using forged identity documents such as Aadhaar and PAN cards. Once generated, these digital signatures allowed them to impersonate company directors and gain entry into secure systems like ICEGATE.

After accessing these accounts, the fraudsters transferred Duty Credit Scrips—financial incentives provided to exporters—into accounts under their control. These scrips were later converted into cash. To avoid detection, the money was moved through several intermediary bank accounts, commonly referred to as mule accounts.

Complaint That Triggered Investigation

The case first came to light following a complaint by a company director who noticed unauthorized transactions. Despite not accessing his account for several days, multiple scrips worth lakhs were transferred without his knowledge. This prompted a deeper probe by the Jaipur Police, eventually uncovering a much larger pattern of fraud affecting numerous exporters.

Systematic Method Used by Accused

Authorities have described a clear pattern in how the operation was carried out. Initially, the accused altered registered contact details such as email addresses and phone numbers linked to company accounts. This allowed them to bypass security checks.

They then updated director information and created new credentials on related portals. With full control established, they transferred export-related benefits like RoDTEP and RoSCTL scrips to fraudulent accounts. These were subsequently sold in the market, and the proceeds were distributed across various accounts to conceal the trail.

Financial Impact and Scale of the Scam

Officials estimate that similar fraudulent activities had occurred earlier, with lakhs siphoned off in previous incidents. Based on current findings, each compromised account may have been exploited for amounts nearing ₹1 crore. If confirmed across all affected companies, the total fraud could reach several hundred crores.

Police also identified that the operation was not limited to one region. Digital evidence points to activity from multiple states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi, along with overseas involvement.

Wider Network Still Under Investigation

So far, 13 suspects have been identified, with five arrests made. The individuals taken into custody are from different districts in Rajasthan. Authorities believe more arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.

Officials also found that fraudulent digital signatures were often generated and downloaded outside India, particularly in Dubai. From there, access was gained to Indian trade systems. Additionally, intermediaries in Delhi reportedly assisted in selling the stolen scrips in the market.

Authorities Urge Stronger Cyber Safeguards

The case has highlighted serious gaps in digital security frameworks used for trade and export incentives. Law enforcement agencies have urged companies to regularly monitor their accounts and update security protocols to prevent such breaches.

Investigations are ongoing, with authorities working to trace the full extent of financial losses and dismantle the entire network behind the operation.