Cops crack down on cyber fraudsters

A Facebook message from a woman claiming to represent a Mumbai-based non-banking financial company (NBFC) turned into a financial nightmare for a Delhi resident.

The incident eventually led the Delhi Police Cyber Cell to expose an interstate cybercrime syndicate involved in a Rs 5.92-crore investment scam. The police also arrested its four members who allegedly laundered the money through mule accounts and shell entities, an official said on Sunday.

Those arrested have been identified as Anas Ansari (22), Mohd Kaif (22), Akib (40) and Md Danish (22), all residents of Haldwani, Uttarakhand.

The complainant claimed that a woman impersonating an investment advisor from “CBCX Global Traders” contacted him on social media.

Over two months, the woman convinced him to invest in “high-return trading plans”. Trusting the fraudster, the victim transferred a sum of Rs 5,92,44,480 to several bank accounts provided by her.

During probe, the police found a complex, multi-layered financial web. According to the police, the cheated amount was routed into 33 accounts. Each account holder received commissions for letting the syndicate use their identity, OTPs and bank access.

According to officials, Danish allegedly played the crucial role, arranging mule accounts for a Dubai-based handler and coordinating withdrawals. Kaif and Anas provided several accounts used in the scam and frequently withdrew cash to hand over to the operators. Akib allowed his bank account to be used, sharing OTPs and credentials in exchange for the proceeds.

Investigators found that around 10 complaints on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal from across the country were linked to the accused.

The investigation involved technical analysis, coordination with multiple banks and targeted raids in Haldwani to apprehend the suspects, the police said. Officials added more arrests were likely as they continue to unravel the higher layers of the syndicate.