THREE SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN IVR FRAUD (DIGITAL ARREST) APPREHENDED, THREE MOBILE PHONES AND SIM CARDS RECOVERED, PASSBOOKS, CHEQUE BOOKS, DOCUMENTS, PAN CARDS, AND STAMPS/SEALS RELATED TO FAKE COMPANIES SEIZED.RS.20 LAKHS FREEZED AND RETURNED TO VICTIM.
Face2News/New Delhi
With the arrest of these three suspects, the IFSO Unit successfully dismantled a module responsible for providing, handling, and using mule/fake bank accounts in connection with IVR fraud (Digital Arrest fraud). The accused were operating fake companies to siphon proceeds of their crimes abroad.
Police said, on September 12, 2024, a complaint was filed at IFSO, Special Cell alleging therein that on the morning of September 9, 2024, she received a phone call wherein someone claimed to be an officer at the Customs Office, Mumbai Airport, Terminal 2. After confirming her identity, the caller informed her that customs officials had intercepted a parcel on September 6, 2024, containing 16 fake passports, 58 ATM cards, and 40 grams of MDMA, with her details listed as the sender. He further claimed that Mumbai Police had issued an arrest warrant against her, and she must surrender.
The fraudsters escalated the intimidation by asserting that a CBI investigation was underway and that her arrest was imminent. Till the pendency of physical arrest, she was put under “digital arrest” by keeping continuous surveillance through WhatsApp video calls. Over the course of these calls, different individuals posing as senior officers from the Mumbai Police, CBI and various law enforcement agencies,pressured her to transfer funds under the pretext of verifying her accounts to avoid money laundering charges. In total, she was defrauded of Rs.55 lakhs.
On the receipt of the complaint a case u/s 318(4)/308(2)/61(2)(4)/3(5) BNS& 66C/66D IT Act was registered and investigation taken up.
OPERATION AND ARRESTS: Given the severity of the offense, a special team led by Inspector Ram Niwas and Inspector Sunil Kumar consisting ASI Sanjay, HC Rajesh and HC Samay Singh was constituted under the supervision of Sh. Jai Parkash, ACP/IFSO. Through a detailed analysis of mobile numbers and bank accounts used by the suspects, investigators identified the proprietors of a fake company, Camellia Services Apartment LLP.
Dr. Hemant Tiwari, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, IFSO, Special Cell, said, the syndicate impersonated officials from the police, CBI, customs, and other government bodies. They would inform victims that parcels containing prohibited items had been intercepted, with their names listed as the sender. Initially, they threatened the victims with arrest and severe penalties, but later shifted to a more sympathetic tone, suggesting it could be a case of mistaken identity. To resolve the issue, they instructed victims to lodge a formal complaint and transfer their savings into specified accounts for "verification," falsely promising that the funds would be refunded after the verification process.
With the aid of mobile and technical surveillance, the police traced and arrested three individuals: Prabhat Kumar, Rajesh Kumar (alias Raja), and Arjun Singh in Burari. Prabhat and Rajesh were found to be the proprietors of Camellia Services Pvt. Ltd., which was used to funnel the defrauded funds. Passbooks, cheque books, company banners, and other documents were seized. Arjun Singh had facilitated the opening of fraudulent bank accounts for the operation.
During investigation all the bank account wherein cheated amount was transferred. Out of total cheated amount, Rs 20 Lacs were freezed in an HDFC bank account and order to release the said amount to victim has been obtained from court.
MODUS OPERANDI: Dr. Hemant Tiwari, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, IFSO, Special Cell, said, the syndicate impersonated officials from the police, CBI, customs, and other government bodies. They would inform victims that parcels containing prohibited items had been intercepted, with their names listed as the sender. Initially, they threatened the victims with arrest and severe penalties, but later shifted to a more sympathetic tone, suggesting it could be a case of mistaken identity. To resolve the issue, they instructed victims to lodge a formal complaint and transfer their savings into specified accounts for "verification," falsely promising that the funds would be refunded after the verification process.
Arrested persons indentified as Prabhat Kumar Shah, s/o Subhnarayan Sah, R/o Burari, Delhi. Age: 24 (Graduate)., Rajesh Kumar (alias Raja), s/o Mathuri Pd, R/o Burari, Delhi, Age: 27 (Graduate). and Arjun Singh, s/o Rakesh Mohan, R/o Burari, Delhi. Age: 29 (MCA).
RECOVERIES: • Three mobile phones and SIM cards. • Passbooks, cheque books, documents, 2 PAN cards, and stamps & seals related to fake companies.
The investigation into offshore entities, additional bank accounts, and other associates involved in the fraud is ongoing.