Retiree loses ₹6.5cr to cyber scam

Retiree loses ₹6.5cr to cyber scam 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 06.03.2025

Chennai : A former forest service officer lost ₹6.58 crore to cyber fraudsters who lured him to join bogus share trading apps through WhatsApp messages. In his complaint, Krishnan Kumar Kaushal, 60, who retired in July 2024 as principal chief conservator of forests, said that he received the messages in Dec 2024. Believing the promises of high returns, he downloaded two apps and transferred all his savings, retirement benefits and house sale proceeds totalling ₹6.58 crore to the bank accounts mentioned. After observing the payees were in different parts of the country and doing different businesses and the data in the apps was fake, he registered a complaint with ‘1930’ cybercrime helpline. A case was registered and investigations begun.

FB ‘friend’ dupes man of ₹1.92 cr in crypto scam

FB ‘friend’ dupes man of ₹1.92 cr in crypto scam 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  23.02.2025 

Ahmedabad : In an era where digital connections often blur the lines between trust and deception, a 48-year-old businessman from Ahmedabad learned a costly lesson. What began as a friendly Facebook interaction evolved into a sophisticated scam, stripping him of Rs 1.92 crore. 

According to a complaint registered with the Cybercrime police on Friday, the fraud began in Aug 2024 when he received a friend request on his Facebook page from a woman claiming to be involved in gym equipment businesses in Dubai and Mumbai. The message read: "Hey, your profile caught my eye while checking my friends' suggestions and thought I would reach out. Can we get to know each other?" 

He responded to her message and soon their chats transitioned to WhatsApp, where she introduced him to a lucrative cryptocurrency investment opportunity, allegedly advised by her uncle, a high-ranking official at an American financial firm. The businessman checked online and found that the company was legitimate. The complainant stated, “My initial investment of $ 500 yielded a profit of $ 250, which encouraged me to make further investments.”He was able to withdraw $1,000 which encouraged him to invest larger sums. 

He eventually saw an online account balance of $677,806 (Rs 6 crore approximately). However, when attempting to withdraw Rs 77 lakh, he was asked to pay a 20% tax upfront. Subsequently, the woman became unreachable, and further research revealed the investment platform was fraudulent. Realizing he had been duped, with only Rs 92,000 returned from his Rs 1.92 crore investment, he reported the matter to the Cybercrime police. 

A complaint for criminal conspiracy, cheating,criminal breach of trust, and cheating by impersonation against an unidentified person has been registered.

Three students, youngest in Class XII, arrested for digital arrest scam

Three students, youngest in Class XII, arrested for digital arrest scam

 P.Naveen@timesofindia.com 14,02,2025

Bhopal : Gwalior cyber police arrested three students — one of them in high school — from a hostel in Noida for alleged links with a syndicate that trapped a BSF officer in digital arrest for a month and scammed him of over ₹71 lakh. The suspects were identified as Aftab Ahmed Khan, a B Tech student from Jharkhand, Akhil Singh Bais, a BBA student from Delhi, and a Class XII student from Kota, Rajasthan. 

The racketeers, posing as Mumbai crime branch officers, had threatened to arrest the BSF inspector’s wife and son and forced him into making 34 transactions. The victim — who is on the verge of retirement and now posted at the BSF Academy in Tekanpur, Gwalior — was told that his Aadhaar card had been used for money laundering. Desperate to save his family, he sold off his flat, mortgaged his land and borrowed from friends. Gwalior cyber cops said the youngsters operated from a hostel room and had been cyberscamming people for two years. 

The money scammed from the BSF inspector was transferred to bank accounts in Karnataka, Aurangabad, and Gurgaon. The trio allegedly helped channelise part of this amount. Police said the accused would persuade hostel and university students to open bank accounts, which were then handed over to a Chinese gang. Some 20 accounts have been traced so far. When fraudulently obtained money was deposited into these accounts, the accused would deduct a 6% commission and convert the remaining amount into USDT (a digital currency), which was then routed to the Chinese gang. A recent transaction of ₹2 lakh was made through one of these accounts. Police were trying to trace its origin and destination

City police warn public of rising cybercrimes through WhatsApp

City police warn public of rising cybercrimes through WhatsApp

Police say cybercriminals send phishing codes to people and hack their WhatsApp accounts; fraudsters then access contact list on phones and seek money from the victim’s friends and family citing emergencies; officers and VVIPs among victims

R. Sivaraman

CHENNAI  09.02.2025

With cybercrimes on the rise through WhatsApp, the Greater Chennai Police issued a public advisory urging caution.

Police warn that fraudsters are using phishing codes to gain access to contacts and exploit them for financial scams.

Recently, cybercriminals hacked the WhatsApp number of a Group-I officer and demanded money from those on his contact list.

A senior police officer said, “Recently, there have been complaints about a new type of fraud wherein WhatsApp accounts are hacked. Most of the victims are officers or VVIPs in the city. Some of them managed to solve it on their own while others sought our assistance.”

Initially, the hackers will forward a six-digit WhatsApp activation code.

“Later, someone will contact you, claiming that their six-digit WhatsApp activation code was sent to you by mistake, and they will ask you to forward the code to them,” the officer said.

Many unsuspecting people forward the activation code to fraudsters. “As soon as the fraudster receives the code, they will be able to hack your phone number, and create new WhatsApp business accounts. As a result, the victim’s WhatsApp account will be disabled,” he said.

Contacts too vulnerable

“Then, the fraudsters will send messages through the hacked WhatsApp number to your friends and family, claiming that you met with an accident or is in need of urgent medical assistance. They will ask for money, to be transferred to their bank account or through payment platforms such as GPay, PhonePe, or Paytm. In addition, they will ask your contacts for the WhatsApp activation code from their phones in an attempt to hack their WhatsApp accounts as well,” the police officer said.

‘Don’t share any code’

Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun said, “WhatsApp will never send an activation code to anyone other than the account owner. Do not share the activation code that you receive on your phone with anyone. If you receive a call from a suspicious number, immediately decline the call or block the number.”

He urged the people to report cybercrimes to helpline number 1930.

Man taken for a ride after using IRCTC app, loses savings

Man taken for a ride after using IRCTC app, loses savings 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 20.01.2025

Ahmedabad : A retired senior citizen, resident of Vadaj, fell victim to a cyberfraud while attempting to make an online payment through the IRCTC mobile application on Jan 3. Dipak Parikh, 66, lodged a complaint with cybercrime police on Saturday, detailing the incident and expressed his concerns about the growing menace of online scams targeting innocent individuals.

According to the complaint, Parikh was attempting to load funds into the IRCTC wallet using his AU Small Finance Bank savings account. Despite multiple attempts, the transaction failed. Seeking assistance, he used the “Ask Disha” help section on the IRCTC app and provided all necessary details to get the problem fixed. Shortly thereafter, he received a call from an individual claiming to be a representative from IRCTC customer service. The caller assured Parikh that his issue would be resolved and guided him to share his banking details under the guise of troubleshooting. 

Unaware that he was being scammed, Parikh followed the instructions, leading to unauthorised access to his bank accounts. Within minutes, a significant amount of money was siphoned off from both his savings and overdraft accounts. Realising he had been cheated, Parikh approached the cops. Cybercrime police registered a complaint of cheating, breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and under the Information Technology Act against the unknown accused.

Scammers plant fake QR codes at MP shops to divert payments

Scammers plant fake QR codes at MP shops to divert payments 

QR CODE SCAM P.Naveen@timesofindia.com 15.01.2025

Bhopal : Digital scammers came up with a new tactic in the temple city of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district, replacing legitimate QR codes of around a dozen shops and a petrol pump with fakes. Payments made by customers were redirected to fraudsters’ accounts. The fraud came to the attention of authorities when traders, including Omvati Gupta, the operator of a medical store, reported suspicious payment issues. Gupta noticed that when a customer attempted to make a payment in the morning, the QR code displayed the name and account details of one ‘Chhotu Tiwari’ instead of hers. Gupta immediately replaced the fraudulent QR code with a new one and alerted the cops. At the petrol pump, the owner experienced issues with payments not being credited to his account. One of the traders in Narayan Market reported a loss of ₹985 and ₹1; the fraud was also detected at other locations, including Khajuraho Petrol Pump, Bade Bhaiya Paan Wale, and Rajesh Medical store. The total amount misappropriated is being verified. The shopkeepers removed the QR codes once they realised the scam. Khajuraho Police urged local businesses to remain vigilant and regularly inspect their QR code scanners.

28-year-old man duped of ₹16L in ‘work from home’ fraud

28-year-old man duped of ₹16L in ‘work from home’ fraud

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 01.01.2025

Ahmedabad : A 28-year old man from Thakkarbapanagar filed a complaint with Cybercrime police on Monday, stating that he was cheated of Rs 15.64 lakh in a ‘work from home’ fraud in July and Aug. According to the complainant, he received a call from an unknown man in the second week of July, offering him a work from home job. He was given the task of liking different web portals of various services and was promised remuneration for liking each service. He was then made to join a WhatsApp group where different tasks were assigned. “The fraudsters gained the complainant’s trust by asking him to submit ratings through a fake application under the pretext of completing tasks. Believing the scheme to be legiti mate, the complainant transferred Rs 15.64 lakh to various bank accounts provided by the scammers,” said a Cybercrime police officer. 

However, even after he paid the money, he was not given any remuneration and was repeatedly asked to pay more money. The complainant finally approached Cybercrime police and filed a complaint of cheating and breach of trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with charges under the Information Technology Act, and an investigation began

No requests, no alerts, doc loses ₹70k by UPI transaction

No requests, no alerts, doc loses ₹70k by UPI transaction 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 19.12.2024

Ahmedabad : A seemingly routine message about a small deposit spiralled into a nightmarish ordeal for a 33-year-old doctor from Juhapura when he discovered Rs 70,000 missing from his bank account without a trace. The cyberfraud, executed through UPI, was baffling as the doctor had neither shared his banking details with anyone nor had he received any notification about the deduction. Dr Aasif Syed, who runs a clinic in Fatehwadi, discovered the fraud on Dec 7 when he received a text from his bank about a Rs 1,520 deposit. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that Rs 20,000 was missing from his account. Alarmed, he checked his Google Pay account and found that Rs 70,000 had been transferred without any transaction history or notification. Seeking answers, the 33-year-old resident of Golden Park in Juhapura, approached his bank’s central branch, where the manager informed him that the amount had been sent via UPI at 1.33pm on Dec 6. Shocked, Syed reported that he neither initiated the payment nor received any alerts about it. After contacting the cybercrime helpline, he was directed to the Sarkhej police station, where an FIR was lodged against an unknown accused under sections of the Information Technology Act for unauthorized access, computer related offenses, and identity theft. Investigation is underway to trace the fraudsters.

Secretariat staffers hit by flurry of fake int’l calls Fear Their Personal Data Hacked From Govt Records

Secretariat staffers hit by flurry of fake int’l calls Fear Their Personal Data Hacked From Govt Records 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 05.12.2024  BHOPAL 

Bhopal : Employees of the Madhya Pradesh state secretariat are receiving an alarming flurry of fake calls and missed calls from international numbers. The numbers being targeted are those registered with the govt. The employees’ union has complained about this to the general administration department. At least 60 employees have complained through the union, fearing that their database is being hacked or leaked from govt records. The employees union reported that for the past few days, a number of employees in the secretariat are receiving international calls on their mobile numbers. The employees who received the calls were asked to click on different numbers on their mobile keypad if they wanted to continue mobile service. Many employees did not answer the calls for fear of being conned. 

On Nov 19, many secretariat employees received calls simultaneously from international numbers. When the employees searched the numbers on the Internet, they found they were from the US, South Africa, Arab countries, and other countries. This has been ongoing for the past few days. On Friday, retired govt employees and pensioners al so received similar fake calls. The employees union stated that such suspicious international calls are coming only to those numbers registered with the general administration dept. 

Those employees or officials who have more than one number have received calls only on the number they provided to the govt. The officers and employees brought this complaint to the notice of the employees union. Employees fear that the data of officers and employees secured with the govt has been leaked to fraudsters.

The employees union has submitted a memorandum in this regard to the general administration dept and has demanded an inquiry into the matter. The list of numbers on which the calls have been received has also been submitted to the govt. Breaching the data secured with the govt, if it has happened, is a serious matter, the employees stated. Sudhir Nayak, president, Mantralaya Seva Adhikari/ Karmchari Sangh, said it is a serious matter and needs immediate govt attention. At least 60 employees have contacted him and complained in this regard. Similar complaints were received from pensioners too. Govt data and records must be protected from being compromised, he added. 

Secretariat staff attend fire safety drill Bhopal : A fire drill was conducted at the state secretariat recently. The employees were briefed on how to use fire extinguishers and react in case of a fire incident. The drive was conducted under the supervision of Vallabh Bhawan chief security officer, Avinash Sharma. A similar drive was conducted in Satpura Bhawan and Vindhyanchal Bhawan recently. Employees were briefed on how to attend to those injured in the fire until medical assistance arrives. Close to a hundred employees were present when the fire personnel briefed them during the fire drill. Vallabh Bhawan I building caught a major fire on Mar 9. The alertness has been stepped up after the incident.

Doctor loses ₹76.5 lakh in online trading scam

Doctor loses ₹76.5 lakh in online trading scam

He was enticed by promises of high returns on investments.

S. Vijay Kumar

CHENNAI 09.11.2024 

In yet another case of online fraud, a government doctor fell victim to scammers, losing ₹76.5 lakh after being enticed by promises of high returns on investments.

The victim, an Associate Professor at a Government Medical College, had transferred the money to what appeared to be an online trading platform for purchasing stocks from well-known companies. He realised that he had been deceived only when he attempted to withdraw funds.

According to police sources, Dr. Ramesh (name changed onrequest) came across an advertisement, offering training and guidance in online trading, on YouTube. It led him to join a WhatsApp community group, where several members presented themselves as investors.

Online trading classes

In the first few days, the group focused on online trading basics, with members frequently posting screenshots of their investments and profits. The group’s administrator, known as Diwakar Singh, recommended stocks for both intra-day and long-term investments.

Once the suspects sensed that Dr. Ramesh had gained confidence in the community, they instructed him to open an account on a specific website, promising a 30% profit from investments in Indian and U.S. stocks.

Following a link provided by the suspects, Dr. Ramesh registered an account and began transferring money from his bank accounts to the website. The scammers claimed his funds would be invested in high-return stocks, even providing a list of companies and IPOs for credibility. Nearly all of the funds were transferred during the first three weeks of October this year.

On October 22, when Dr. Ramesh attempted to withdraw ₹50 lakh from his account, the transaction was declined. Upon inquiry, he was told that a ₹50-lakh fee was required by the “Qualified Institutional Buyers Association” to process withdrawals. “That’s when I sensed something was wrong. I realised that I could not access my funds, and that I had been systematically lured into an online trading scam,” Dr. Ramesh toldThe Hindu.

After he reported the incident, a case was registered under the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Tamil Nadu police are now working to locate suspects in North India, where the funds were reportedly transferred and withdrawn. A senior police officer handling cybercrimes in the State said Dr. Ramesh’s case was yet another example of unsuspecting individuals losing money to scammers.

“Once the money is transferred, it is siphoned off in less than two hours. In a recent case, ₹1.18 crore transferred to one such fraud account was withdrawn in about 250 transactions across India. The accused were operating from Southeast Asian countries,” the officer said.

Man held for ‘digital arrest’ scam

Man held for ‘digital arrest’ scam 

Sindhu.Kannan@timesofindia.com 30.10.2024

Chennai : Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned people against falling prey to scamsters who threaten people with ‘digital arrest,’ an Ambattur resident lost ₹1.05 crore to fraudsters who used the ‘digital arrest’ method. The account to which the money had been transferred in three instalments, however, belonged to a Velachery resident K Sathishkumar, who floated a fake firm, opened a savings bank account and then sold it to cyber fraudsters. 

The Avadi cybercrime police traced Sathishkumar and seized three cell phones, seven credit cards, and ₹8,000. According to a complaint from Rameshkumar of Ambattur, he received a video call from a man who claimed to be a CBI officer. He told Rameshkumar that his name had been linked to a pending money-laundering case wherein Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra was the main culprit. It may be noted that Kundra was accused of creating and distributing porn films through apps and was arrested in Sept 2021. He is currently out on bail. Giving these details, the fake CBI officer told Rameshkumar that he was under ‘digital arrest’ and that he had to transfer the cash deposit in him bank accounts to several other accounts belonging to the ‘CBI’. 

He said the money would be returned to him in two hours if the ‘law enforcement agencies’ found him innocent. Till the ‘verification’ is complete, he should not reveal his ‘digital arrest’ even to his family members, he was warned. Believing the words, Rameshkumar transferred a total of ₹1.05 crore in three instalments. As there was no more communication from the other side, Ramesh Kumar realised that he had been cheated. He then lodged a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) and approached the Avadi cybercrime wing. A team headed by cybercrime inspector Praveen Kumar tracked the account that belonged to Sathishkumar of Velachery. 

Inquiries revealed that he floated a fake firm in his name, opened a 

savings account and sold it to the fraudsters. Only on Monday, Prime Minister Modi asked people to be vigilant against “digital arrests” and said investigative agencies never contact individuals over phone or video call for such matters. The Prime Minister also said probe agencies were working with the states to deal with the issue.

‘Chinese national behind digital arrest racket’

‘Chinese national behind digital arrest racket’ 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 26.10.2024 LUCKNOW 

Lucknow : Following the arrest of two Nepalese nationals in connection with a digital fraud case in the city, the UP special task force (STF) said that a Chinese national could be the mastermind of the gang. The STF had arrested two persons, Saroj Khanal and Shivram Rimal, and found during preliminary investigation that the duo worked under a Chinese national, identified as Ben. According to DySP, STF, Deepak Kumar Singh, the arrested Nepalese suspects confessed that Ben lured them into financial fraud. He added that Khanal and Rimal had been executing digital arrest frauds throughout India for the last one years. Sources in the STF said that preliminary findings indicated that Ben created a network of operatives to expand his illegal operations across multiple states in India. During interrogation, Khanal and Rimal revealed that Ben operated alongside Chakre Milan, a prominent gangster from Nepal. Milan and his associates are known for involvement in illegal activities across Nepal and India

Blank screen? Might be a sextortion call

Blank screen? Might be a sextortion call 

NEW TRICK Dwaipayan.Ghosh@timesofindia.com 20.10.2024

Kolkata : Sextortion calls have become more sinister this festive season, said cops, with conmen having changed their modus operandi making it difficult for the potential victim to identify that the caller had planned to trap him.

 “Earlier, the moment such calls were made, the potential victim would see scantily clad or naked women at the other end. Ever since we began our awareness drive, citizens mostly now immediately end the video call giving less time to the accused to capture the video of the victim and use it for extortion. Now, when a victim picks up the call, he sees a blank or black screen. It takes him a few seconds to understand what was going on in his screen, leave aside ascertaining it to be a fraud call. This allows enough time for the accused to capture his image and superimpose it and then ask for extortion money,” said a senior cyber cell officer. 

Lalbazar on Saturday took to X platform to warn citizens on the changing modus operandi. Sources said at least four complaints in this regard have been received though no one till now has ended up paying the extortion money. A senior cop has drawn up a detailed list of do’s and don’ts for the city’s netizens.

MBA student conned of ₹99,000

MBA student conned of ₹99,000 

Chennai : An MBA student who transferred ₹99,000 to a scamster has complained to the Seven Wells Police Station saying he was conned. Police said the Sai Saran, 22, a resident of Kondithope received a call from a man, who told him that the parcel he sent contained drugs. He said Sai Saran was involved in unaccounted cash transactions. The caller asked him to transfer ₹99,000 to a UPI ID to prove his innocence. After he transferred the cash, the conman disconnected the call. Sai realised he was conned and lodged a police complaint

Fraudsters hold Mala Parvathy in ‘virtual’ arrest for an hour

Fraudsters hold Mala Parvathy in ‘virtual’ arrest for an hour 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  15.10.2024 

Kochi : Actor Mala Parvathy on Monday claimed that fraudsters, pretending to be Mumbai police officers, held her in a virtual arrest for nearly an hour. They told her that a courier in her name was held back, but she managed to avoid the scam by acting quickly. Parvathy said the incident occurred when she was in Madurai for the shoot of a new movie. “I received a call around 10am. A man identified himself as Vikram Singh spoke to me and he said a courier was held back. They claimed that my Aadhaar card was misused to send an illegal package to Taiwan. When I asked him for more details, they asked for my address and bank account details. They said the package contained my passports, bank cre- dit cards, a laptop, and 200 grams of MDMA. They also sent an ID card claiming they were from the Mumbai crime branch and held me on a live call,” she said. 

Parvathy said it was a WhatsApp call and when she checked the ID card on Google, she realised that it was fake. Her manager also alerted her that it was a trap. Meanwhile, Parvathy is yet to lodge any complaint with the police regarding the incident.

Beware! Don’t get ‘arrested’ by scammers CYBER THREAT Digital Detention: 24 Cases Reported In City This Yr So Far

Beware! Don’t get ‘arrested’ by scammers CYBER THREAT Digital Detention: 24 Cases Reported In City This Yr So Far 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  BHOPAL  15.10.2024

 Bhopal : Imagine this: You’re going through your daily routine, when out of the blue you receive a call from a “cop”, who tells you that you're under investigation for a serious crime or that a family member has been arrested for a crime. Panic sets in. You try to jog your memory— what did you do wrong? Before you can wrap your mind around anything, the caller says you’ve been linked to a money laundering or a drug trafficking case, and if you don't pay a fi ne or cover legal fees immediately, an arrest warrant will be issued. 

This is the new terrifying cyber-crime, the ‘digital arrest’ scam, which is catching people off guard and stealing their hard-earned money. Around two dozen cases of digital arrest were reported with the Bhopal cyber crime branch this year, including one in which a retired Navy Commodore was kept under digital arrest at his home by cyber-criminals posing as senior officers of Mumbai police. The retired official was duped of around Rs 68.49 lakhs. Senior police officers say that the situation is much worse as many cases are still not reported to the police, especially those cases where in people do not fall into the trap of fraudsters.

A senior officer said that a person falls into the trap of cybercriminals either through text messages on WhatsApp or Telegram, or through a phone call. People should think before making any decisions while talking to a stranger over a phone call, and they should verify whether the information is true, the official said. He said that the Bhopal cybercrime branch and the state cybercrime headquarters issue advisories  from time to time, alerting people that there is no legal provision for ‘digital arrest’, and citizens should remain cautious of misleading messages, particularly those related to bank accounts, insurance, and pensions. 

A few months ago, an exNavy officer was allegedly held under ‘digital arrest’ at his home for two days and was duped of Rs 68.49 lakh by cybercriminals. They concocted a false story that a parcel carrying drugs (MDMA) was booked from Mumbai to Taiwan using the officer’s Aadhaar Card. The fraudsters impersonated officials of an international courier agency and DCP (crime branch) of Mumbai police. They threatened to frame him in a drug smuggling and money laundering case and siphoned the money. They instructed him to post ‘present sir’ on the Skype video call every half an hour. He could not sleep for the next 48 hours. However, there have been two cases, which showcase how people managed escaped this scam with their awareness and presence of mind.

Recently, an Awadhpuribased professional, whose son studies in an institute in another state, received a phone call from a cybercon in which the fraudster threatened him, claiming they had kidnapped his son and demanded a ran som. The man was left shocked and immediately disconnected the fraudster's phone. As he called his son's mobile number, the same fraudster picked up the call and threatened him again. The man was worried but did not lose his calm. He immediately called his son's college principal and found out that his son was safe in the college canteen.

In another case, cybercriminals tried to dupe the parents of a youth, who hails from Dehradun and studies at a national institute in Bhopal. The accused threatened his parents, claiming they had kidnapped their son. As the youth’s father tried calling his son’s number, it was unreachable. He then called the college and found that his son was safe. Both cases have been reported to the police. A senior officer said that the scam is spreading rapidly, with cons preying on the fear that people have for law enforcement and govt agencies.

These criminals have refined their approach, using modern technology and psychological manipulation to intimidate their victims into making hasty financial decisions. Additional DCP (crime branch) Shailendra Singh Chouhan said that cybercriminals target people only through phone calls or messages. People should verify whatever the fraudsters are claiming over unknown phone calls and messages and take further action. They should not act in a hurry.

This Diwali, stay safe from scams too. Fake Sites Target Shoppers

This Diwali, stay safe from scams too.   Fake Sites Target Shoppers 

Ram.Sundaram@timesofindia.com 07.10.2024

Chennai : Supreme Court may have banned retailing of firecrackers online, but social media is awash in advertisements by fraudulent websites targeting Diwali shoppers. These scammers offer fireworks, at ₹2,000-₹3,000 per piece, with discounts of 80%-95%, showing videos of branded sky crackers and fancy fireworks. “A customer placing an order is given a UPI ID, QR code, or bank details to make an online payment and assured crackers will be delivered within a week. When questioned on delayed deliveries, the scamsters cite high demand. Within a few days, they shut the websites, switch off contact numbers, and vanish,” said Raja Chandrasekaran, President of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Fireworks Traders

In several cases, scammers not only disappear with the customers’ money, but also drain their accounts. “Many customers, hoping to recover their money, approach us for help. However, these sellers are not legitimate and don't even have a GST number, let alone the required fire licences,” he said. Some fraudsters deliver inferior quality firecrackers instead of branded ones that are promised. Madurai resident R Chidambaram who was scammed into paying ₹6,000 said, “What I received was nothing like what they advertised.” Such rampant fraud has forced GST authorities in Madurai to conduct surprise inspections. In one instance, they seized a truckload of substandard fire crackers without proper documentation. Legitimate fireworks traders, such as N Elangovan, blame licence delays for pushing customers towards online scams. 

“Issuing timely licences will let traders sell locally, reducing fraud,” he said. Permanent licence renewals in districts such as Tiruvallur, Cuddalore and Ariyalur have been pending for weeks. Temporary licences in places such as Madurai and Coimbatore close just a week before Diwali. “By then, quality firecrackers from Sivakasi, the state's manufacturing hub, would be sold out, leaving traders with limited business opportunities and buyers vulnerable to online scams,” he said

Retd professor learns ₹1.8cr lesson after e-trading fraud

Retd professor learns ₹1.8cr lesson after e-trading fraud

 Ahmed.Ali@timesofindia.com 29.09.2024

 Mumbai : The cyber police in the city solved a case of online fraud and arrested two businessmen from Gujarat, in which a retired professor was deceived into investing in the stock market. The fraudsters persuaded the professor to join a ‘VIP Privilege WhatsApp group’, where they demonstrated a substantial profit of 30%, encouraging her to invest a total of Rs 1.80 crore. The North Region Cyber Cell has apprehended two businessmen, Gujan Baisania (36) and Saurabhkumar Sanghani from Gujarat, who had provided their bank accounts to the fraudster gang in exchange for a percentage of profits. 

Baisania and Sanghani run chemical and cosmetic manufacturing units in Gujarat. DCP Datta Nalawade and senior inspector Suvarna Shinde of North Region Cyber Cell said they have frozen the account of Sanghani, which has an amount of Rs 58 lakh. The gang had used these businessmen’s accounts to commit 33 offences in India, amounting to a sum of more than Rs 25 crore. The case came to light after a 71-year-old who retired from her position as a professor and lives on her pension encountered the scammers in Feb 2024 through an advertisement on Facebook  related to share market investment. 

She joined a WhatsApp group named ICICI Securities VIP 11, which was managed by an individual posing as CIO Rajiv Ambani. The group, which had around 65 members, appeared to be legitimate, even showcasing daily trading tips and profits from group members. Rajiv Ambani claimed to be a stock market analyst with 40 years of experience and assured group members they could profit from his trading advice. He charged a monthly fee of Rs 1,000 to provide investment tips. The complainant transferred this amount to a bank account provided by Ambani and received trading tips. Later, Ambani convinced the complainant to open an institutional share trading account that would supposedly yield a 30% profit.

His assistant, Laxmi, helped her download two fraudulent apps, MXICICER and EICICRE, which were designed to mimic the layout of genuine trading platforms. Under their influence, the complainant invested large sums from March to April 2024, with total investment of Rs 1.80 crore. To her shock, when she tried to withdraw the displayed profit of Rs 20.50 crore, she was asked to pay additional taxes. 

At this point, she realised she had been duped and filed a complaint with the cyber police. A case has been registered. “She has provided evidence of the scam, including screenshots of the fake apps, bank transactions, and her conversations with the fraudsters on WhatsApp. We are working to track down Rajiv Ambani, Laxmi, and others involved and the creators of the fraudulent apps,” said investigating officer Kiran Aher. Police have urged the public to be cautious of such scams and to verify before investing any money.

New scam exploits poor in city suburbs Fraudsters Open Fake Accounts, Use Offices

New scam exploits poor in city suburbs Fraudsters Open Fake Accounts, Use Offices

Vivek.Narayanan@timesofindia.com 

Chennai : Scammers operating from Cambodia and Laos have found a novel way to deceive private banks and open bank accounts for transferring money from online scams. They use unorganised co-working spaces to set up fake offices and hoodwink banks. The cyber crime wing of the central crime branch (CCB) attached to the city police registered more than 250 cases between Jan and Aug this year. Topping the list are 89 cases dealing with online trading and 45 pertaining to the FEDEX scam. Thousands of young people, including women, from India are sold by illegal job agents to Chinese-operated scam companies in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. Hundreds of them are from Tamil Nadu, particularly the western and southern regions, with a few from Chennai. 

These scamsters have agents in Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai, who source SIM cards and open multiple bank accounts. They target youngsters mainly from areas such as Thiruvottiyur, Ambattur, Tiruvallur and Vellore. These youngsters are promised ₹20,000 for an account. The agents first open GST accounts in their names and then take them to a local co-working office in the city using a day pass. “They fix a banner of the fake company. An outsourced person appointed by the bank comes for verification and the bank account is opened. Apart from co-working spaces, commercial spaces in suburbs that are available for rent are also used for this scam,” said a police source. The details of the accounts are sent to scamsters through message-sharing platforms.

 This process is used to transfer the money stolen through online scams to different parts of the country. The agents often receive instructions from their handlers abroad on messagesharing platforms, specifying which bank should be selected every day. “When police catch the fake account holders, they usually do not provide any information about the agents. We arrested a few  persons in Thiruvottiyur recently. Subsequently, the number of people agreeing to open the bank accounts have reduced drastically,” added the officer. An official of a leading private bank in the city said that of late, bank officials directly visit the applicant's place for verification. “We have also been creating awareness among elderly persons on different forms of online scams,” said the official.

CYBER CRIME