Online fraud gang busted, 3 Nigerians held

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, September 30

The police have busted an online fraud gang of Nigerian nationals who had allegedly duped many persons across the NCR.

The gang used to honey trap victims or propose lucrative business opportunities. The latest complaint was lodged by a Maruti Vihar resident, who met a woman named Poonam Makela through Facebook.

She allegedly told him that she worked with a UK anti-terrorist organisation. She proposed to start medicine export business and said she was sending items worth millions.

“I got a call from a person who identified himself as a customs officer. He told me that the parcel had arrived, but less customs duty was paid. I paid over Rs 1.7 crore,” said the complainant.

Preliminary investigation led the police to Ranjeet Kumar Thakur of Delhi. He had made the call and money was transferred into his account. He led the police to the gang and three Nigerians were nabbed from Mehrauli.

“They are being interrogated and we are verifying their passports and visas. We may solve many cases with the arrests. People should never pay money to anybody they have not met, especially those who claim to be foreign nationals,” said ACP Karan Goel.