In a significant breakthrough, the Deoghar district police have apprehended three individuals accused of orchestrating online fraud by impersonating customer care representatives of major app-based platforms and financial service providers. The arrests were made on Thursday following a tip-off, according to officials.
Details of the Accused
The three accused have been identified as Santosh Kumar Das (36) and Roshan Kumar Das (22), both residents of Dumarthar village under Karon police station, and Suman Kumar Das (22) of Navapatro village under Madhupur police station. Notably, none of them had any prior criminal record, the police confirmed.
Modus Operandi
Deputy Superintendent of Police Kailash Prasad Mahto stated that preliminary examination of seized mobile phones and SIM cards indicates the trio's involvement in multiple cyber fraud cases. The police recovered four mobile phones, three SIM cards, five debit cards, and Rs 3,000 in cash from their possession.
According to the investigation, the accused would call victims posing as officials of various app-based platforms, enticing them with promises of cashback offers and reward points. The victims were then persuaded to purchase gift cards, which the gang later redeemed. Additionally, they posed as bank officials, falsely claiming that customers' cards had been blocked and extracting money or confidential details under the pretext of reactivation.
Police Statement
“They also posed as bank officials, falsely claiming that customers’ cards had been blocked and extracting money or confidential details on the pretext of reactivation,” DSP Mahto said. He further emphasized that the investigation is ongoing to uncover the full extent of their fraudulent activities.
