Punjab Police on Sunday (September 29, 2024) busted a gang of inter-State cyber fraudsters who duped noted industrialist Shri Paul Oswal of ₹7 crore.
The gang executed an elaborate plan including fake Supreme Court hearings, fake arrest warrants and digital arrests. The scam began with a phone when the accused told Mr. Oswal that he had been implicated in a criminal case, police said.
The accused, posing as a CBI officer, told Mr. Oswal that they had seized a parcel bound for Malaysia with 58 fake passports, 16 debit cards, and other suspicious materials which was allegedly linked to Mr. Oswal’s Aadhar Card, making him a prime suspect in the case, police said.
Knowing that Mr. Oswal was a well-known industrialist, the gang capitalized on the potential embarrassment that he could face if the case went public.
To establish credibility, the accused arranged a video call with Mr. Oswal, presenting himself in a office environment that featured a large CBI logo in the background. They also forged Supreme Court arrest warrant and sent it to Mr. Oswal on WhatsApp, further intensifying the sense of urgency and fear, police said.
The accused told Mr. Oswal that he would be “digitally arrested” without the need for any physical intervention, thus avoiding public scrutiny. He also promised to arrange a lawyer in Mumbai who could secure Mr. Oswal’s bail.
In exchange for this help, the accused convinced Oswal to transfer ₹7 crore to two different bank accounts. The scammer reassured Mr. Oswal that the money would be refunded once he was cleared of all charges, police said.
However, Mr. Oswal later discussed the matter with his manager, who raised doubts about the legitimacy of the claims. They contacted the police, leading to the discovery of the scam, police said.
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The Cyber Crime Police Station in Ludhiana launched an investigation and arrested Atanoo Chaudhary and Anand Kumar Chaudhary from Guwahati, Assam. They were found to have arranged the bank accounts that received the funds, police said.
The police also managed to recover ₹5.25 crore from the accused. During the investigation, the police found that five other people involved in the case are currently at large, they said.
The arrested individuals are reportedly linked to a larger network involved in such scams, and the police are working to identify and apprehend the remaining culprits, they added.
Published - September 30, 2024 01:16 pm IST
