Two cyber criminals arrested for Rs 22 lakh fraud

The Cyber Police Station arrested two cyber thugs accused of cheating Rs 22 lakh. The arrested individuals were identified as Amit Kumar, son of Major Singh, a resident of Kharkhoda, Sonipat, and Tilu Ram, son of Deshraj, a resident of Bhiwani. The police recovered cash worth Rs 8.90 lakh along with 83 bank ATMs, 23 checkbooks, and 8 passbooks from the possession of the accused. The accused were involved in deceiving innocent people by taking their savings accounts and ATMs and investing fraudulent money.

Providing information, ASP Manpreet Singh Sudan stated that under the leadership of cyber station in-charge Rakesh Kumar, his team members Deputy Inspector Mukesh Kumar and Sunil Kumar arrested the two accused involved in the Rs 22 lakh fraud. ASP informed that a complaint was received on the Cyber Helpline Complaint Portal on February 12, 2024. In the complaint, the victim, retired from the Haryana Diary Department, stated that an unknown person contacted him and asked him to help by transferring Rs 4.50 lakh to his account. He was instructed to transfer Rs 3 lakh to an account belonging to someone named Akash Kumar and keep Rs 1 lakh for himself. Subsequently, the cyber criminal claimed that his friend, residing in the USA, needed Rs 7 lakh for his mother’s treatment in Delhi. The victim then deposited Rs 2.25 lakh and Rs 2.50 lakh into the mentioned account.

Later, he was asked to deposit more money for his friend’s visa issues, resulting in the victim depositing Rs 2.70 lakh and Rs 1.30 lakh into the provided account. Through similar fraudulent schemes, cyber criminals managed to defraud approximately Rs 22 lakh. Following this, the victim lodged a complaint on the cyber portal, prompting immediate action and the registration of a case in the cyber police station.

ASP stated that Deputy Inspector Mukesh and Constable Sunil Kumar would investigate the case. Through call records, bank accounts, and other information, it was discovered that the defrauded amount of approximately Rs 22 lakh was transferred by cyber criminals to multiple accounts linked in Layer-1 and Layer-2. A transaction of Rs 50 thousand led to the discovery of an account in Bhiwani. Upon inquiry, the account owner revealed that he had sold the account to Tilu Ram for Rs 2000. Subsequently, the police arrested Tilu Ram, who confessed to being involved in several such schemes and implicated another individual, Amit Kumar, a resident of Kharkhoda, Sonipat. Amit Kumar was arrested along with his vehicle, from which approximately Rs 8.90 lakh, 23 checkbooks, 08 bank passbooks, and 83 ATM cards were recovered. Additionally, a fake police ID card was found in Amit Kumar’s possession, featuring his photograph. Both individuals are technically proficient cyber criminals, with Amit Kumar operating his own CSC center and engaging in illicit activities using Photoshop.

ASP stated that both accused individuals have been interrogated, and the investigation is ongoing. Further arrests of involved parties are expected soon.