In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a 52-year-old man from a remote village in Valpoi, located below the Western Ghats in Goa, was cheated of a staggering Rs 1.4 crore after falling victim to a sophisticated honey trap laid on a fake matrimonial website. The Goa Police have made one arrest in connection with the elaborate scam.
The Elaborate Honey Trap and Fraudulent Scheme
The victim had registered himself on a matrimonial site, where he was contacted by a fraudster posing as a woman named Samsiyabegaum. After initiating contact, the accused built a relationship with the complainant under false pretenses. Senior Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta detailed that the fraudster then deceitfully introduced the victim to a fake forex trading platform, misrepresenting it as a legitimate and high-return investment opportunity.
Under the false promise of substantial profits, the victim was coerced into transferring funds. The complainant ended up transferring a total of Rs 1.4 crore through multiple transactions into various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. The police confirmed that the accused cheated the man through impersonation and the unlawful use of computer resources.
Police Investigation Leads to Arrest
Acting on the complaint, a police team traced the digital trail and identified a suspect from Nagpur. The authorities arrested 23-year-old Rushabh Ishwariprasad Hanvate. Investigation revealed that his bank account, termed "Layer 1," had received Rs 9.9 lakh from the scam proceeds, which were then funneled to accounts of his associates.
Further forensic analysis of the financial trail uncovered a more extensive network. Hanvate's bank account was found to be linked to 19 other cyber fraud cases across India, highlighting the scale of the criminal operation. In a bid to prevent further crimes, the police have also sent a request to block the fraudulent matrimonial website used in the scam.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Probe
The arrested accused was produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody. The investigation is ongoing under the supervision of Police Inspector Deepak Pednekar. This case serves as a stark warning about the dangers of online financial scams, especially those originating from fake profiles on social and matrimonial platforms.
Authorities urge the public to exercise extreme caution when approached for investments online, especially by unknown individuals who build relationships quickly and promise unrealistic returns. The Goa Police's action in this case demonstrates their focus on tackling the growing menace of cyber fraud and honey trap schemes targeting vulnerable individuals.
