Delhi Police has uncovered an organised cyber fraud network that allegedly duped people, particularly in southern India, by promising loans, scholarships and other financial benefits, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Four people were arrested, while five women working as telecallers were bound over in the case. Police recovered 21 mobile phones, records containing details of customers and suspected victims, banking documents and Rs 45,170 in cash.The case emerged during an analysis of cybercrime complaints and financial transactions recorded on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and the SAMVANYA portal.Staff at the Cyber Police Station in Delhi's West District detected a pattern of suspected fraud involving bank accounts maintained in the district.
According to police, victims, particularly those living in Tamil Nadu and other parts of southern India, were allegedly persuaded to transfer money on the promise of scholarships and other financial benefits.During verification, an account at Karnataka Bank's Vikaspuri branch was found to be linked to three cybercrime complaints. An examination of the account and the associated SIM card led police to Amit Kapoor, who allegedly handled the account and facilitated the withdrawal of money received from victims, PTI reported.
Police registered a first information report in West Delhi and launched an investigation. Amit Kapoor, Shiva Singh Chaudhary and S Gaurav, also known as Appu, were arrested.They allegedly arranged and handled bank accounts and SIM cards, facilitated withdrawals and coordinated the transfer of the cheated money.Further investigation found that Gaurav allegedly acted as a link between those arranging bank accounts and people associated with a calling operation targeting victims in southern India, police said.Acting on the leads, police raided a premises in Budhella, Vikaspuri, where they found six people, including five women telecallers and Seraj Ansari, also known as Dawood, who allegedly managed the establishment.Mobile phones, notepads, registers and banking documents containing details of customers and suspected victims were recovered from the premises.
The records indicated that calls were allegedly being made to people with offers of loans and other financial schemes.Ansari was subsequently arrested on the basis of evidence collected during the investigation, while the five women telecallers were bound over in the case, police told PTI.According to police, members of the alleged network had specific roles. Bank accounts and SIM cards were arranged to receive money from victims, while callers allegedly persuaded people to transfer funds by promising loans, scholarships and other financial benefits.Account details, UPI IDs and QR codes were allegedly shared with victims to receive payments.
After the money was credited, it was withdrawn through different channels, including ATMs, and handed over to other members of the network. Commissions were allegedly retained for arranging bank accounts, supplying SIM cards and facilitating the transfer of money.In all, police recovered 12 smartphones, nine keypad mobile phones, 10 notepads, five registers, a debit card, two cheque books and Rs 45,170 in cash.
Four people were arrested and five telecallers were bound over in connection with the alleged fraud targeting people with promises of financial benefits.- Ends