25 BANKS ACCOUNTS IN DIFFERENT BANKS FROM DIFFERENT NAMES RECOVERED, APPROX RS. 4.00 LAKH FREEZED IN BANK ACCOUNTS. RS. 2.02 LAKHS CASH RECOVERD ACCUSED HAD CHEATED MORE THAN 1000 INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR CRORES OF RUPEES IN LAST 8 YEARS. 15 MOBILES PHONES,20 SIM CARDS,2 LAPTOP,4 DONGLE USED IN COMMISSION OF CRIME RECEOVERED ACCUSED PERSONS USED TO CONTACT THE VICTIM THROUGH MATRIMONIAL SITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. LATER ON, THEY USED TO PRETEND TO SEND GIFT FOR THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILY AND WOULD GET MONEY TRANSFERRED FROM THEM IN THE NAME OF CUSTOM DUTY, CONVESRION CHARGE OF DOLLARS/ EURO AND OTHER OFFICIAL CHARGES
New Delhi (Face2News)
With the arrest of accused persons namely 1)PAUL ONYEJI ATUH(DOB 11.02.1994), 2)SAMUEL ANIAGOR (DOB 21.09.1985) and 3)CHARLES PIUS CHUKWUEBUKA (29 years),all Nigeria nationals, the team of Cyber Crime Police Station, Central District has busted a notorious gang of International fraudsters who were involved in online cheating all over India and abroad.
The gang was operational for more than 8 years. 25 Bank Accounts in different Banks in different names have been recovered. Approx Rs 04.00 lakhs was freezed in Bank Accounts of accused persons, Rs. 2.02 lakhs cash, 15 Mobile phones, 20 sim cards, 2 laptops and 4 dongles used in commission of crime have been recovered. Accused had cheated more than 1000 innocent people for crores of rupees in the same way.
Ms. Manvinder Kaur (Name changed) R/O Central District, Delhi filed a complaint on National Cyber Crime Portal stating therein that she had made a profile on a matrimony site “sangam.com” and through the site, she came in contact with one person namely Ankit Verma. Ankit verma told her that he lives in Canada and is a doctor by profession.
Later on, they exchanged their WhatsApp Number and started chatting on WhatsApp. On 22.12.2021, he said that he has arrived IGI Airport from Air Canada flight AC 048 (seat No. 23) and Custom officer has stopped him, for carrying huge amount of Canadian dollar. After that, one lady called her from another mobile phone number and stated that Ankit Varma has been taken into custody at airport and Rs. 55,900/- has to be paid to release him as he was carrying huge amount of Canadian Dollar. Believing on their words, complainant transferred Rs. 55,900/- in two instalments in the bank account provided by the said lady.
Later on, the caller lady further raised the demands of Rs 1,50,000/- saying that ministry of finance has to clear this money. Thereafter, complainant sensed something fishy and refused to pay further. Subsequently, on the complaint of complainant, a case FIR No. 07/22 u/s 170/419/420/34/120B IPC was registered at PS Cyber Central District and the investigation was taken up.
Keeping in view the sensitivity of the offence, a dedicated team headed by Inspr. Khemendra Pal Singh, SHO/Cyber Police Station comprising SI Deepak, ASI Pankaj Yadav, ASI Sirmor, HC Sagar, HC Tejvir, HC Vijay Sharma, Ct Kuldeep, Ct Surjeet, W/CtGeeta and other staff under the supervision of Shri Yogesh Malhotra ACP/ Operation Central district was constituted under the overall supervision of the under signed. (SUBHEAD)
During investigation, bank details of beneficiary accounts in which complainant had transferred the money were obtained. It revealed that a large number of transactions were being done from the said bank accounts. Further, the money credited in these accounts were being transferred to other bank accounts or withdrawn through ATMs immediately. Various Banks accounts were opened in the name of different persons to rotate the money. Details of banks accounts were collected from the various banks. Team further collected the CCTV footage of ATMs from where money was withdrawn.
Analysis of CDR of mobile phones used in commission of crime was also done. Details were also collected from the said matrimony site. During investigation, it revealed that the accused persons have cheated a large number of people with the same modus operandi.
On the basis of scientific investigation, the team apprehended two accused persons namely PAUL ONYEJI ATUH and SAMUEL ANIAGOR CHIBUZOR from Greater Noida. Various facebook and matrimony profiles were recovered from the mobile phones and laptop of the accused persons. Both the accused persons were interrogated and they confessed the crime. Both the accused persons were then arrested.
INTERROGATION: Ms. Shweta Chauhan, IPS, DCP, said, during sustained interrogation, accused persons disclosed that they used to make fake profiles on various matrimony sites and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, messenger etc. in different names.
Later, they used to lure people and would exchange WhatsApp number with them. After some days, they allured them that they will send gift for them or will come to meet them in India. They also used to create dummy parcel tracking receipt and would send it to the targeted person to gain their confidence. After 3-4 days, some person among them used to call targeted person impersonating as Custom officer or airport authority officer.
They would then tell that there are Dollars/Pounds in the parcel and he /she has to pay custom duty/conversion charges for it. Once the amount is paid, they used to increase their demand on the pretext of one or the other. Further, on their instance accused CHARLES PIUS CHUKWUEBUKA has also been arrested from Greater Noida who on sustained interrogation stated that, he entered in India Illegally via Bangladesh border in the month of December 2020. Since then, he has been residing in Greater Noida.
Accused persons had cheated more than 1000 people in last 8 years. The money was further sent to Nigeria through intermediary. The victims are from all part of the country. They used to cheat both male and female by impersonating as opposite sex. The data recovered from the accused shows that the accused persons are operating in other Asian countries also with their associates established in the said countries.
RECOVERY: 25 Banks Accounts Details in different names. Rs. 2.02 lakhs cash recovered.Approx 4.00 lakhs cash get freeze in different bank accounts., 15 Mobile Phones and 20 Sim cards used in commission of crime. Two Laptop/Tabletand4Dongles used in commission of crime. Transaction proof of more than Rs. 2.20 Crores.
PROFILE OF ACCUSED: PAUL ONYEJI ATUH (DOB 11.02.1994) R/O NIGERIA presently residing at Delta-2, Greater Noida and SAMUEL ANIAGOR came to India on 23.01.2020 on student Visa for one year. He took admission in BBA in Noida International University and started living with OGUNA, his friend. He taught him how to make fake profile and induce people for transferring money. His parents had expired and he has one younger brother, wife and one son of 2 years.
SAMUEL ANIAGORCHBUZOR (DOB 21.09.1985) R/O Street Anatu, Enugu City Nigeria presently residing at Delta -2, Greater Noida came to India in November 2013 on medical visa for three months and started living in Chhatarpur, Delhi with his friend Afoma. He taught him to cheat people online. His parents and 2 sisters reside in Nigeria. His wife has also come to India in the year 2016. He has one daughter of 5 years.
CHARLES PIUS CHUKWUEBUKA (16.02.1993) r/o Imo State, Nigeria is presently residing in Greater Noida. He is unmarried and his parents had expired. He has 2 sisters and he came to Bangladesh in the year 2019 on three months Visa. From Bangladesh, he illegally entered in India in the month of December 2020. Since then, he has been living in greater Noida with his friend. His friend Okechukwa brought him in this field.
CASES WORKED OUT: FIR No. 07/2022, Dated 31.05.2022, U/s- 420/170/419/34 IPC, 14A foreigner Act, 66 D IT Act. PS- Cyber Police Station, Central, Delhi., FIR No. 10/2022 dated 28.01.2022 u/s 419/420 IPC, PS Laitumkhrah, District East Khasi Hills, Shilong, Meghalaya., FIR No. 62/2022 dated 25.05.2022 u/s 420 IPC, 66-D IT Act-2000-2008 PS- Amurthalur, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, Various others complaints has filed against the accused all over India.
Investigation of the case is underway. Efforts are being done to nab other associates of the gang.