In a significant crackdown, Daman police have arrested seven individuals linked to a gang involved in online fraud and cheating. The arrests followed a complaint by a local man, Rakesh Bhuwaneswar Chaurasiya, who reported a harrowing experience of being threatened and defrauded of ₹27.90 lakhs through an online transfer. The incident began on November 11, 2024, when Rakesh received a call from an unknown number claiming to be from the telecommunications department. The caller warned him that illegal advertisements and threatening messages were being sent to his registered mobile number. Rakesh was frightened and was told that if he wanted to avoid legal trouble, he needed to obtain a police clarification letter. The next day, he received a WhatsApp video call from someone claiming to be from the Andheri police station in Mumbai, who sent him multiple notices to further intimidate him.
The fraudsters presented Rakesh with two options: either he would spend three months in jail or he could obtain clarification online within 24 hours. Under pressure, Rakesh provided his bank account details to the fraudsters, who assured him that if everything was in order, his money would be refunded. They instructed him to transfer all his savings to a fake Reserve Bank of India account. Rakesh, following their instructions, transferred ₹20 lakhs from his HDFC Bank account and ₹7.90 lakhs from his Union Bank account, totalling ₹27.90 lakhs.
After the incident, the Dabhel police registered a case and began their investigation with the help of the IT cell. They gathered information regarding the bank accounts and mobile numbers involved. After a year of relentless work, the police arrested the seven suspects, who were all found to be deeply involved in the scam.
The arrested individuals include Nitin Satish Jangra, 27, from Maham City, Haryana, who used the defrauded money to buy cryptocurrency. Mahipal Gopilal Siyak, 26, from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, facilitated the fraud using a friend’s bank account. Pankaj Sharavankumar Karvasra, 21, from Bikaner, Rajasthan, withdrew money from ATMs using the funds obtained through the scam. Abhishek Tapan Chakraborty, 38, from West Bengal, opened a new bank account to help his associates. Swapan Madhusudan Modak, 42, also from West Bengal, provided access to his bank account to another suspect for a commission. Anis Ujjaman Sarkar, 22, invested the money in online betting and gaming apps. Finally, Siddharth Biswas from Nadia, West Bengal, assisted Anis in these fraudulent activities.
The police have now begun the process of recovering the defrauded money and are continuing their efforts to apprehend other individuals involved in this extensive fraud network. This case highlights the growing issue of online scams that target unsuspecting individuals, urging the public to be more vigilant and cautious of unsolicited calls and requests for personal information. As online fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, it is essential to stay informed and aware to protect oneself from such deceptive schemes.
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