Mohali cyber cops bust international racket, uncover fraud worth Rs 15 crore; 7 foreign nationals arrested
According to the police, the accused allegedly created fake social media profiles to befriend Indian and foreign nationals. They would then lure victims with promises of expensive gifts from abroad.
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The Cyber Police team seized 79 smartphones, two laptops, two MacBooks, 99 Indian and foreign SIM cards, and found details of 31 fake bank accounts.
(Express Photo)The Cyber Police in Mohali busted an international fraud racket and arrested seven foreign nationals, hailing from Nigeria and Ghana, during a raid conducted in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, where the suspects were operating a call centre, the police said Saturday.
Announcing the arrests in a press briefing, Harmandeep Hans, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mohali, said the preliminary investigations indicated that over 350 people have been duped, with the total financial fraud amounting to nearly Rs 15 crore.
“Using advanced cyber tools and covert strategies, our team managed to identify and apprehend the culprits,” he added.
The team also seized 79 smartphones, two laptops, two MacBooks, 99 Indian and foreign SIM cards, and found details of 31 fake bank accounts.
They estimated the total value of the recovered items to be around Rs 30 lakh.
The SSP said the operation was led by Rupinderdeep Kaur Sohi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
Mohali Cyber Police arrests seven foreign nationals, hailing from Nigeria and Ghana in international cyber fraud case.(Express Photo)
According to the police, the accused allegedly created fake Facebook and Instagram profiles to befriend Indian and foreign nationals.
They would lure victims with promises of expensive gifts sent from abroad.
Subsequently, they demanded money under the pretext of customs clearance or taxes.
In some cases, the scammers would befriend married individuals and later blackmail them by threatening to reveal their online interactions to their spouses.
“Our team uncovered this large-scale fraud through technical tracking, social media monitoring, and confidential information. We urge the public to stay alert and avoid accepting friend requests from unknown foreign accounts,” the SSP said.
He further warned the public, saying, “Do not send money to anyone in exchange for gifts or dollars. Report any suspicious activity immediately to the Cyber Police.”
The SSP confirmed that further investigation is underway in the case, and more arrests are likely in the coming days.
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