- Accused had created hundreds of fake profiles on different matrimonial websites
- Called victims over WhatsApp using virtual numbers with +1 (US) and +44 (UK) ISD Codes.
- Dozens of persons duped of several lakhs of rupeesAccused persons did not have valid visas
INTRODUCTION
In a major breakthrough, a team of Cyber Crime Unit (CyPAD), Delhi has busted a gang of fraudsters indulged in cheating people and arrested three members of the gang including the gang leader, all of them being Nigerian Nationals. The accused persons have been identified as under: –
Cyber Crime Unit (CyPAD)
1. Franklyn Chinedu Uzowuihe r/o Imo State, Nigeria Aged 32 Years
2. Ukegbu Emmawuel Chigozie r/o Imo State, Nigeria Aged 40 Years
3. Samuel Chizoba r/o Anambra State, Nigeria Aged 34 Years
CASE HISTORY
A complaint was received at Cyber Crime Unit in which the complainant had alleged that he was cheated by a group of unknown persons on the pretext of friendship/marriage. He was induced by the accused persons to deposit around Rs. 2.5 lacs in various bank accounts to get a so called gift/parcel cleared from customs which was supposedly sent for him from the UK. Later, when he did not receive any parcel and accused persons started asking for more money, he got suspicious and refused to give the money. He, subsequently, filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Unit (CyPAD). A case FIR under relevant sections of law was registered and investigation was taken up.
TEAM & amp; INVESTIGATION
A dedicated team under the close supervision of ACP Aditya Gautam comprisingof SI Vijender, SI Parbhat, ASI Ved Pal, ASI Harjeet, HC Jitender, HC Ram Kumar, Ct Rahul, Ct Ravi Nandan, Ct Saurav & Ct Vipin Partapwas constituted. The accused persons were apprehended based on technical and manual information.
INTERROGATION, DISCLOSURE & MODUS OPERANDI
The interrogation of the accused persons and a perusal of their mobile phones/laptop revealed that they had been staying illegally in India for over four years now, after their visas expired. They have cheated dozens of people on the pretext of providing visa assistance, marriage inducement, foreign jobs, etc. They used to contact people on various social media platform and offer services for obtaining visa of various countries. They would then induce the unsuspecting victims to deposit money, ranging from 25,000 to 3.5 lakhs, in various bank accounts and subsequently, stop taking
their calls.
The accused persons had also created fake profiles (of affluent foreigner or NRI men and women) on several matrimonial sites. They would contact the victim and induce them with a marriage proposal. They called victims over WhatsApp using virtual numbers with +1 (US) and +44 (UK) ISD Codes. After chatting with the victims for a few days, they would tell the victims that they were sending a parcel with expensive gifts and foreign currency for them. A few days later, the victims would get a call from someone claiming to be from the Customs Department who would ask for money to get the customs clearance. This will be followed by calls from various numbers demanding money for charges such as IMF approval, International Transfer Permission, Embassy Charges, etc. In this way, they would induce the victim to deposit money (up to several lakhs) in various bank accounts and then stop taking their calls. They have, similarly, cheated several people on the pretext of providing them jobs in various foreign companies. Investigation of the case is under progress. Efforts are being made to identify more victims.
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