From Victim to Perpetrator: The Unraveling of a Rs 46 Lakh Cyber Fraud
In a startling case that highlights the dark underbelly of international cybercrime, a 23-year-old Bihar man has been arrested for allegedly defrauding a Karnataka businessman of Rs 46 lakh. What makes this case particularly disturbing is that the accused, Shah Alam, had recently escaped from what authorities describe as a "cyberslavery" situation in Cambodia, only to employ the same fraudulent techniques upon his return to India.
The Cambodian Nightmare and Criminal Education
Shah Alam's journey into the world of cybercrime began unexpectedly when he traveled to Phnom Penh on April 29 for what he believed was a legitimate data entry job. The biomedical sciences dropout soon found himself in a completely different environment than promised. According to police officials, Alam was taken to an undisclosed location where he became part of an eight-member team specifically targeting Indian citizens through online scams.
The working conditions were reportedly harsh and exploitative, characteristic of criminal operations. Alam's employers withheld his promised monthly salary of $600 along with any performance incentives. Despite his growing dissatisfaction, Alam proved to be an effective scammer, earning what police described as "performance rewards" for successfully extracting large sums of money from victims.
His breakthrough came when he received a half-day outing as reward for his scamming performance. Alam used this opportunity to reach the Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh, which facilitated his return to India in August after nearly four months of what investigators are calling forced participation in cybercrime activities.
The Matrimonial Scam That Netted Rs 46 Lakh
Rather than leaving his criminal education behind, Alam allegedly put his newly acquired skills to work immediately upon returning to India. His target became one of the same individuals he had previously attempted to scam from Cambodia.
Police investigations reveal that in May, a 47-year-old businessman from Uttara Kannada district came across a profile named "Aishani" on the matrimonial website Nikahforever.com. Between June 21 and July 23, the victim transferred approximately Rs 36 lakh to the fake profile under various pretexts including trading investments and gifts.
After returning from Cambodia, Alam purchased a new SIM card and resumed communication with the Karnataka businessman, continuing the charade of being "Aishani." The victim continued sending money and expensive gifts whenever requested. In one particularly bold move, Alam traveled to the Hyderabad airport posing as Aishani's servant to collect a MacBook that the victim had dispatched.
The Investigation and Arrest
The scam began to unravel when the businessman grew suspicious after receiving no response to his marriage proposals despite having sent substantial amounts of money. He filed an official complaint with the Uttara Kannada district's CEN police station (Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics).
Deputy Superintendent of Police B Ashwini advised the victim to continue communications with the scammer while police conducted their investigation. Authorities eventually identified Alam as the perpetrator through technical analysis of IP addresses and other digital evidence.
The investigation reached its climax when Alam, still posing as Aishani, made his final ambitious demand - Rs 40 lakh for what he claimed was his "mother's medical treatment." Police set a trap at the Bengaluru airport where Alam was arrested on Friday. Interestingly, while Aishani had claimed to be traveling from Hyderabad, police discovered Alam was actually arriving from Delhi.
Ashwini confirmed that Alam had cheated many Indians while operating from Cambodia, and that the investigation has revealed multiple layers to this international cybercrime operation. The total amount lost by the Karnataka victim stands at Rs 46 lakh.
Police have obtained seven days custody of Alam to conduct further investigations into what appears to be a sophisticated international cybercrime network with connections to Cambodia and multiple victims across India.
