A gang, involving Nigerian nationals, who were allegedly duping people over online advertisement portals on the pretext of selling cars at throwaway prices, have been arrested by Bengaluru police.
While six members of the gang, headed by Bolaji Lawal Desmond (36), was arrested by the West Division Police, the North-East Division Police arrested two persons while three are absconding.
Among the arrested are two Indians, Averil Lawal, a native of Tamil Nadu and wife of the gang leader Desmond, and Sadhana, masqueraded as customs officials to cheat people, who were enticed with the offer to sell expensive cars at cheap rates by other gang members.
The other arrested are Chuka Okpala (30), Okjie Colling (28), Oja Lawal (30), Cristian Obina (31) and Ehibi Ehis (27), and police have recovered two cars, laptops, pen drives, memory cards and other documents from them.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Labhu Ram said: “The gang would download photographs of cars parked in the international airport parking area and post it on Quikr and OLX, online advertisement portals with an offer to sell them at throwaway prices.”
Explaining the modus operandi, he said that customers would be offered car as low rates, citing an emergency on which the gang member would have to leave the country. “Customer would be asked to contact Averil, who would pretend to be a customs official/ She would inform the customer of the customs duty, parking fee and others that had to be paid. After getting convinced, the buyer would deposit the money and the gang would withdraw it before switching off the phone.”
Police action came after two complaints were filed by Shekar, who lost Rs. 3 lakh, and Srinivasa, who had been cheated of Rs. 95,000.
