22 BANKS ACCOUNTS IN DIFFERENT BANKS FROM DIFFERENT NAMES RECOVERED ACCUSED PERSONS USED TO CONTACT THE VICTIMS OVER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM. LATER ON, THEY USED TO PRETEND TO SEND GIFT FOR THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILY AND WOULD GET THE MONEY TRANSFERRED FROM VICTIMS IN THE NAME OF CUSTOM DUTY, CONVERSION CHARGE OF DOLLARS/ EURO AND OTHER OFFICIAL CHARGES. ACCUSED PERSONS HAVE CHEATED MORE THAN 500 INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR CRORES OF RUPEES IN LAST 5 YEARS 11 MOBILES PHONES, 29 SIMS 2 LAPTOP;p 1 DONGLE, 3 PENDRIVES USED IN COMMISSION OF CRIME RECEOVERED APPROX RS. 3.50 LAC- CASH FREEZED IN BANK ACCOUNTS
Face2News/New Delhi
With the arrest of accused persons namely 1) ISAAC CHUKWUMA OKORIE (46 yrs), 2) OFOSU (27 yrs), 3) SAI MATTHEW (29 yrs), all three African Nationals, 4) KAMAL KUMAR @ ABU (25 yrs) and 5) LALRIMAWII (56 yrs), the team of Cyber Crime PS, Central District has busted a notorious gang of International fraudsters who were involved in online cheating all over India.
Complainant lady Dr. working in a govt. hospital has reported that one “Mark Peterson” has approached her over Instagram on 29th June 2022. He represented himself as Pilot in American airlines, presently residing in London. Later on, they exchanged their WhatsApp Number. He used to send WhatsApp messages to her regularly. In July 2022, he told her that he is coming to India for a tour.
On 25.07.2022, she received a telephone call that “Mark Peterson” has arrived at Mumbai Airport and in the name of Custom Duty and other charges accused cheated her for more than 19.00 lacs. She requested for legal action. Subsequently, a case FIR No. 43/22 dated 29.10.2022 u/s 170/419/420/120B IPC PS Cyber Central, Delhi was registered and investigation was taken up.
TEAM:-
Keeping in view the sensitivity, gravity and seriousness of offence, a dedicated team headed by Inspr. Khemendra Pal Singh SHO/Cyber Police Station comprising SI Deepak, SI Deepak Phogat, ASI Pankaj Yadav, ASI Sirmor, HC Ombir, HC Tejvir, HC Satish, HC Kuldeep, HC Surjeet, W/HC Meenaxi and other staff was constituted under the supervision of Sh. Ajay Kumar Singh, ACP/ Operation Central district.
INVESTIGATION:–Ms. Shweta Chauhan, IPS, DCP, Central Distt, said, During investigation, bank details of beneficiary accounts in which complainant has transferred the money were obtained. It revealed that a large number of transactions were being done in the said bank accounts. Further, it was revealed that the money credited in these accounts was transferred to other banks 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. Technical analysis including analysis of CCTV footages as done. Details were also collected from the social media platforms. During investigation, it revealed that the accused persons have cheated a large number of people with the same modus operandi.(SUBHEAD)
On 15.12.2022, on the basis of technical investigation, the team apprehended accused Kamal Kumar @ Abu from Uttam Nagar, Delhi area. Duing interrogation he confessed the crime. At his instance, accused ISAAC CHUKWUMA OKORIE, OFOSU, Lalrimawii and SAI MATTHEW were also apprehended from Tilak nagar, Delhi area. Various fake Instagram, facebook profiles were recovered from the mobile phones and laptop of the accused persons.
INTERROGATION: Ms. Shweta Chauhan, IPS, DCP, Central Distt, said, during sustained interrogation, accused persons disclosed that they used to make fake profiles on Social Media platforms i.e Facebook, Instagram, messenger etc. from different names. They encountered the persons on these platforms. Later, they used to exchange their WhatsApp number.
After some days, they would allure them that they will send gifts for them or come to meet with him/her in India. They also create dummy parcel tracking receipt and used to send it to the targeted person to gain confidence. After 3-4 days, accused Kamal Kumar @ Abu used to call the targeted persons personating as Custom officer or airport authority officer.
He told that there are dollars/ Pounds in the parcel and he /she has to pay conversion charge for it. Accused has cheated more than 500 people in last 5 years. The cheated money was further sent to Nigeria through some intermediary. Victims in this case are from all part of the country. The data recovered from the accused shows that the accused persons are operational in other Asian countries with their associates sitting in the said countries.
RECOVERY: Two laptops havning various fake documents, email ids etc., 11 mobile phones and 29 simb cards used in commission of crime., 22 Bank accounts having transactions of more than 1.00 Crore Rs., 4 debit cards., Rs. 3.50 lacs got freeze in bank accounts., 1 Dongle, 3 pen drive.
CASES WORKED OUT:-1. FIR No. 43/2022, U/s- 420/170/419/468/471/34 IPC, 14 foreigner Act, 66 D IT Act. PS- Cyber Police Station, Central, Delhi., Various others complaints has filed against the accused all over India.
KNOW THE ACCUSED: Kamal Kumar @ Abu S/o Ramnath R/o Uttam Nagar, Delhi, Age 25 years. He is 12th pass. He came in contact with foreign national cheats 2 years ago. He used to impose as officer from custom department. He also opened bank accounts to credit cheated money.
Isaac Chukwuma Okorie s/o Waka Chukwuma R/o Nigeria, (age 46 years). He Came to India in the year of 2017 on three months medical visa. Since then, he has been residing in India illegally. He used to create false documents and would impersonate as RBI officer.
Ofosu S/O Gabriel R/o Ghana, (age 33 years). He came to India in the year of 2017. Since then, he has been living in India illegally. He used to create various fake profiles on social media and would chat with the victims impersonating as bank official.
Sai Matthew (23 Years) S/o Konbia R/o Ivory Coast, Africa . he came to India in April 2022. He used to create various fake profiles including “Mark Peterson” which was used to impersonate the victim.
Lalrimawii (56 years) w/o Vungngula r/o Mizoram. She provided Bank accounts for transferring cheated amount.
Moreover, 2 foreign nationals who have been residing illegally in India since 2017 were produced before the FRRO to deport them to their respective countries. Investigation of the case is underway and search for their other associates is being done.
