Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
An Instagram advertisement designed to look like a major bank’s offer became the entry point to a sophisticated cyber fraud racket, leading Delhi Police to bust a suspected international syndicate with links to Bangladesh. Two men have been arrested and 50 mobile phones, including 45 brand-new high-value devices worth around Rs 25 lakh, have been recovered.
The Cyber West police station in west Delhi launched the investigation after a man approached police on August 7, alleging that he had been duped after responding to a bank-related advertisement on Instagram.
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The victim reportedly contacted the number provided in the advertisement, following which the accused began communicating with him on WhatsApp while posing as bank officials. After gaining his confidence, they allegedly convinced him to download an app called “AMEX India” and used it to obtain his personal and credit card details.
The fraudsters then allegedly used the victim’s credit card to make purchases worth Rs 2.68 lakh, buying expensive mobile phones in the process.
Technical investigation and analysis of the money trail subsequently revealed suspected links to Bangladesh. Police found that mobile phones purchased using the allegedly fraudulent funds had been delivered to Lucknow, Kolkata and Dhanbad, while links associated with fake SIM cards were traced to 24 Parganas in West Bengal.
Acting on these leads, a police team raided a hotel in Lucknow and arrested 21-year-old Mohammad Rashid Niyaz alias Danish, a Kolkata resident. Nineteen mobile phones were recovered from his possession.
During questioning, Rashid allegedly told investigators that he had travelled from Kolkata to Lucknow with his associate, 29-year-old Mohammad Asif, to collect new mobile phones on the instructions of other members of the syndicate.
Delhi Police subsequently coordinated with Kolkata Police and arrested Asif in Kolkata. Thirty-one new mobile phones were recovered from him, taking the total number of seized phones to 50.
Of the recovered devices, 45 were brand-new high-value smartphones, including iPhones, collectively valued at around Rs 25 lakh. Police also seized five phones allegedly used by the accused. Investigators said chats found on the seized devices indicated communication with foreign-based members of the alleged syndicate.
According to police, the racket operated by using social media advertisements to target people with credit-card-related offers. After victims responded, fraudsters allegedly posed as bank representatives and shifted conversations to WhatsApp.
The accused would then allegedly persuade victims to download fraudulent applications designed to obtain their financial information. While keeping victims occupied on calls, they allegedly used the stolen card details to purchase expensive mobile phones.
The phones were subsequently routed through different states, with police investigating the suspected arrangement under which the devices were allegedly supplied to Bangladesh in return for commissions.
Police are now probing the wider network, including the foreign links, other members of the syndicate and the alleged supply chain used to move the fraudulently purchased phones across borders.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
