International cyber fraud ring busted, Mohali police nab 7 foreigners

The police claimed to have busted an international ring of cyber fraud with the arrest of seven Ghana and Nigerian nationals.

The suspects have been identified as Nigerian natives Sambo Abdulhameed Umar, Benedicat Emmanuel Uyah, Isah Danlami Adamu, Onyegbunke Onyeise and Desmond Chukwazonim Aluge Kainji, and Ghana nationals Samuel Elsan and Emeke Onyibe Oyinaga, all residents of Supertech Golf Country, Sector 22-B , Greater Noida, UP.

The gang allegedly duped more than 350 persons of nearly Rs 15 crores. They were arrested from their hideout in Gautam Budh Nagar, UP, on May 18.

As many as 79 smartphones, two laptops, two MacBooks and 99 Indian and foreign phone SIM cards have been seized from them. Cops also recovered around Rs 30 lakh in cash from them.

According to the police, the suspects were running a fake call centre from a rented accommodation in UP by befriending married men and women on the social media. After taking them in confidence, they used to pretend that they had sent a gift to them but it was withheld by customs. The victims were asked to transfer some money online to a bank account to release the gift. In reality, it was an account operated by their group.

As many as 31 bank accounts related to the ring have been found and more are expected. The ring also used to threaten the victims against informing his or her spouse about their friendship.

A case was registered at the Cybercrime police station, Phase 7, on May 23.

SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans said, “It has come to light that a parallel gang is operating along with them from an African country.”