The Vadodara Cyber Crime Cell has detained 17 people, members of an interstate cyber crime syndicate, for allegedly siphoning over Rs 94 million by making city residents download fake stock market applications, officials said on Thursday. It was announced on .
The 17 suspects were arrested on Wednesday. They were remanded in police custody for two days on Thursday.
The racket was unearthed on the basis of a complaint filed by Rajiv Ramakrishna, who said he was a cyber fraudster who tricked people into clicking on social media ads promising huge profits by investing in the stock market. It is said that he was defrauded of 94.18 million rupees. According to the complaint filed on March 30, the scammers added their victims to a WhatsApp group called “C6 Blackrock Stocks Pull Up” and encouraged them to submit details through a form.
“The victim was then added to another group called C3 Angel Broking Customer Care and received a call from someone posing as an executive, telling the victim that their application had been verified…Then a fake group called ANGELBG A mobile application link was shared” which contained forged SEBI registration details. The victim was given a username and password…The application showed great benefits to the victim in gaining their trust,” said MM Rajput, Deputy Commissioner of Police Cyber Crime .
The victim then deposited Rs 94.18 million in multiple installments into various accounts. “However, as I was unable to withdraw the profits, I realized that I had been deceived and approached the police,” he added.
Vadodara Cyber Crime Authority said 11 of the 17 people arrested had accounts where the victims deposited the money withdrawn and handed it over to their co-accused for a nominal fee. The suspects are Abrar Khan Pathan (23), Shahrukh Vohra (25), Ghomsi Dave (20), Salim Miya Shaikh (42), Syed Ikhtiyar (22), Zalal Saudagar (31), Mir – Salim (24), identified as Wasim. Belim (24), Mohammad Aftab Beg (22), Adnan Shaikh (22), Liyakat Shaikh (47), Mehboob Ibrahim (22), Shahrukh Dobi (29), Sahil Shaikh (24), Kabir – Mansouri (21), Sohil Shaikh (25), Ramizkari Qadri.
ACP stated: indian express The mastermind behind the scam is suspected to be based in Delhi. “So far, we have received a complaint from Mr. Vadodara. As we are investigating this money trail, it appears that its roots are in Delhi and other states…The mastermind of the incident is in Delhi. We are trying to trace him to see how many unsuspecting victims have been duped so far,” Rajput said.
© Indian Express Private Limited
Date first uploaded: May 16, 2024 23:00 IST