Online fraudsters’ gang busted

A Bengaluru-based three-member gang of “online fraudsters”, including a Nigerian was arrested by Cyberabad Cyber Crime Police. Cash of Rs one lakh, ATM cards, fake documents, mobiles and a laptop were seized.

           

According to police, the gang of online fraudsters comprising James Martin, 27, Christopher, 32, (Nigerians), Lalchhanhimi alias Chhentei, 32, and Emanuel Lalthianghlima, 23, allegedly duped several youths by offering them jobs in Canada and the USA. They also gave fake advertisements regarding sale of used cars and Mobile phones in OLX.com and quicker.com. The accused Lalchhanhimi and Lalthinghlima rented a house in Shamshabad by making copy of rental agreement, created fake documents and opened some 70 Bank accounts in different Banks. After collecting bank cheque books, passbooks, ATM cards, they vacated the house shared the details with Nigerians. They collected details of job seekers from different online job portals and correspond with them in the name of H.R. Managers of US and Canadian international reputed companies.

The gangsters offered handsome salaries ranging from $8,000 to $10,000 per month plus insurance coverage, house, car, first class return ticket for family and two months paid leave annually. Falling into their trap, five persons from Jeedimetla and LB Nagar paid Rs 5 lakh each.

Following a complaint, the Cyber Crimes Police have registered cases and took up investigation. The sleuths identified the accused and trapped them at Shamshabad area and recovered a cash of Rs one lakh, 15 Bank Passbooks, 15 cheque books, 13 PAN cards, six Voter ID cards, 13 driving licenses, 22 ATM cards, 15 SIM cards, six Mobiles and one laptop.

           

The investigating officer was surprised to note that top Korean Pop singer and actress “Bae Suzy” has opened two bank accounts with different names and said to be living in Shamshabad area. On grilling, one of the accused Lalchhanhimi, who hails from Aizawl of Mizoram State, confessed that, she applied a little makeup and opened bank accounts in different names by pasting pop singer Photographs downloaded from internet. The lady fraudster is also expert in” Photoshop” used to create fake Election ID Cards, Aadhar Cards and Driving Licenses by editing the images of original cards available in internet. The accused also used email IDs to dupe the public. Christopher, Lalchhanhimi and Emanuel Lalthianghlima of Aizawl Mizoram were produced before the Court which remanded them to judicial custody. (NSS)