A job seeker lost his money despite repeated warnings and appeals from the custodians of law not to get swayed by words of tricksters. The police recovered the money and arrested three of the accused. Based on a complaint from K. R. Vishnukumar (22), son of K.K. Renganathan of Panthadi Third Street here, Inspector General and Commissioner of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal directed the cyber crime to register a case.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that the complainant had completed his B.E. in ECE and was looking for a job. He was lured into a WhatsApp group which had the name as “Job Helpers.”
The group admin posted job offers in different names and locations with qualifications required and salary details. Vishnukumar contacted a phone number posted in the group without cross checking the details. He agreed to the terms and deposited ₹ 90000 in the name of Venkatesh (29) in a bank account as and when he received an “offer” letter from the “company,” an officer investigating the case said. When he went there in person, he found that there was no such a company. When there was no response and the WhatsApp group admin was not “reachable,” he lodged a complaint. A team was formed and the police traced the callers and secured Rajkumar (29) and Venkatesh of Chinna Salem, Villupuram district. Based on their confession, an accomplice identified as Sujeet (27) of Arakonam Vellore district was also arrested.
When contacted, Mr. Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal said that the confessions indicated that the trio had lured unsuspecting victims from a few other States too. “We have seized a laptop, ₹ 30,000 in cash. More investigations have to be done,” he added. An officer said that they have registered cases under Sections 66 (D) of IT Act, IPC Section 420 (cheating) against them and produced them before a court.
