In a significant crackdown on digital fraud, the Gurgaon police have apprehended five individuals, including four Nepalese nationals, for allegedly cheating people through elaborate scams on WhatsApp and fake trading applications. The arrests were made on Tuesday from the Rajendra Park area.
The Modus Operandi: Luring Victims with False Promises
The accused are said to have operated by creating WhatsApp groups and promoting fraudulent mobile applications. They specifically targeted individuals looking for investment opportunities, luring them with promises of high returns in the stock market and IPO investments. The victims were convinced to invest money with assurances of guaranteed profits, only to be duped.
The case came to light after a victim filed a formal complaint on November 1. Following the complaint, a team from the Cyber Crime (south) police station in Gurgaon launched a detailed investigation which led to the arrests.
Arrests and Seizure of Evidence
The police have identified the arrested accused as Sher Bahadur Karki, Milan Thapa, Yanjay Ray, Manish (all residents of Nepal), and Virendra Pal Singh, a resident of Patiala in Punjab.
During the raid, the police team seized substantial evidence, including:
- Seven mobile phones
- 20 ATM cards
- 18 cheque books
- Four bank passbooks
How the Fraudulent Money Trail Worked
Explaining the intricate network, Police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar detailed the money trail. Investigations revealed that approximately Rs 2 lakh from the cheated amount was funneled into a bank account held in the name of a firm called Tara Logistics Private Limited.
This account, however, was fraudulently opened in the company's name by two of the accused, Milan and Sher. In a startling revelation, the police said this bank account was later sold to Manish for a mere Rs 5,000.
The chain did not end there. Manish then allegedly sold the account to Virendra Pal Singh, offering him a 5% commission on all money transferred into it. Virendra, in turn, is said to have passed the account details to another person for a 2% commission, creating a layered system to obscure the origin of the illicit funds.
This case highlights the sophisticated methods employed by cyber criminals who exploit digital payment systems and social media platforms. The Gurgaon police's action serves as a warning to such networks and a reminder for the public to exercise extreme caution with unsolicited investment offers on messaging apps.
