Manipur police arrest 2 Cyber frauds from Rajasthan

Imphal: Manipur Cyber Crime Police have arrested two cyber frauds from Rajasthan under cheating by personation and cheating and dishonesty inducing delivery of property and IT Act.

Inspector general (IG), state cyber crime, HT Gangte told reporters at the conference hall of officer’s club of 1st Manipur Rifles, here on Thursday.

He said a complaint was received by Cyber Crime Police station on June 17. In the complaint it was reported that the complainant had come across on a facebook group “Pothapham”, an advertisement issued by one Vikas Patel posing as a CISF officer posted at Imphal Airport.

The advertisement was for selling off his household items as he would be transferred out from Imphal Airport. The complainant was interested in the said advertisement and therefore contacted him on Whatsapp. Then Vikas Patel provided to the complainant one bank account number for transferring the money, he added.

The fraudster initially asked for transfer of 10 per cent of the total cost and again asked for another instalment through a delivery boy thereby duping the complainant to a total amount of Rs 1,89,500 on different transactions. However, the complainant did not receive any products or items as promised, the senior police officer said.

He said based on the complaint a regular case was registered for further investigation.

During the course of investigation, the suspected Cyber-criminals were traced in the vicinity of the Alwar district, Rajasthan. As follow up action, a team of Cyber Crime Police station, Manipur comprising of sub-inspectors N. Bhubonchandra and Gangmeilansailung, and havildar Jamsonmuan Tunglut were deputed to Rajasthan and arrested two accused persons along with some incriminating items on June 24.

The arrested persons were identified as one Fakru, 30, son of Fajru Khan, and Jakar Khan,25 , son of Hurmat Khan, both resident of Kakrali Alwar, under the jurisdiction of Sadar Police station, Rajasthan.

Three Vivo smartphones along with three Jio SIM cards allegedly used in the commission of the crime were also seized. Two bank accounts used for transaction of money were freezed, one account in Equitas Small Finance Bank, Solapur, Maharashtra and another account in ICICI bank Ajmer, Rajasthan.

The duo were brought to Imphal by flight on Tuesday last, he added.

The accused persons revealed that they impersonated a personnel of CISF and created fake facebook accounts and uploaded posts on different facebook groups, posing as seller of household items on a low price to deceive innocent victims. “They were also engaged in creating fake documents; collecting personal IDs from social media; collecting compromised bank accounts and posting fake advertisements for different kinds of products on facebook and other social media platforms,” Gangte said.

“The case is being investigated seriously and charge-sheet will be submitted soon,” he added.

The senior police officer appeals the general public to take precautions while buying goods or products from online sources and also be extra-cautious when coming across low and attractive prices for goods and services.

Personal credentials or private information like Aadhar number, voter card, PAN card, etc., should never be given to unknown persons especially on social media platforms, he suggests.