Punjab Police Arrest Seven in International Fraud Operation in Noida

Punjab Police have arrested seven suspects from Nigeria and Ghana involved in a fraudulent scheme operating from a fake call center in Noida. Seized items include 79 phones, laptops, and documents related to 31 fake bank accounts, with estimated involvement of ₹15 crore. Authorities continue to investigate the reach and techniques of the scam.

In a significant crackdown on fraudulent activities, the Mohali Cyber Crime Cell of the Punjab Police arrested seven individuals from Nigeria and Ghana. These arrests occurred in Noida, where the suspects allegedly operated a fake call center, according to police reports released on Saturday. The accused, all male and aged between 25 and 35 years, were subsequently placed on a two-day police remand by a Mohali court.

During the police raid, law enforcement seized a notable amount of equipment estimated at around ₹30 lakh, including 79 smartphones, four laptops (two of which were Apple MacBooks), 99 SIM cards from both Indian and foreign sources, and documents associated with 31 fictitious bank accounts. It appears the gang’s operations were quite extensive, with transactions through these accounts reaching approximately ₹15 crore.

According to Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Harmandeep Singh Hans, the suspects employed deceitful social media tactics to connect with individuals both in India and abroad. “Preliminary investigations indicate that the group potentially duped over 350 victims,” he stated, highlighting the gang’s sophisticated methods that utilized advanced cyber tools.

The modus operandi of the gang involved enticing victims with promises of luxurious gifts purportedly sent from overseas. They would then claim that customs had detained these parcels, demanding payment for supposed clearance charges or taxes. Victims were instructed to deposit money into designated bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.

The operation was spearheaded by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rupinderdeep Kaur Sohi, who noted that the rented residence from which the operations were conducted was leased by a Nigerian woman, whose current whereabouts remain unknown. The ongoing investigation seeks to unveil the identities of the bank account holders linked to these fraudulent activities and clarify the origins of the obtained SIM cards.

Additionally, DSP Sohi pointed out that the scammers were not only targeting Indian victims but also Nigerian nationals, luring them with phony job offers in India, further demonstrating the international scope of the fraud.

The Punjab Police’s successful apprehension of the alleged fraudsters marks a significant step in dismantling an international scam ring preying on individuals through deceptive tactics. With a large amount of sophisticated equipment and fraudulent documentation seized, authorities are actively investigating the broader implications of the case, including account holders and additional victims.

Original Source: indianexpress.com