Syndicate involving Fastag & Amazon gift cards to siphon off money busted, 2 held

A police team conducted raids in the area and uncovered a fully equipped cyber fraud set-up operating under the name ‘Bansari Company’. Two accused – Ghan Shyam alias GB Boss (29) and Naresh Kumar alias Kalu (27), both residents of Gharsana – were arrested on January 14.

“During questioning, accused Ghan Shyam disclosed that he had opened firms in the name and style of ‘Bansari Brothers and Ventures’. Initially, the firms were linked with e-Mitra services for bill payments such as electricity bills, earning commissions. However, due to low profits, the accused devised a plan to misuse their accounts for cyber fraud. They allowed their bank accounts to receive cheated money, which was routed through Fastags issued on various vehicles. The Fastag balances were then utilised to purchase Amazon Gift Cards, thereby laundering the cheated amount,” said DCP (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar.

Police have recovered 70 mobile phones, 10 laptops, 37 ATM cards, 10 bank passbooks, 467 SIM cards, five Fastag tags and a POS machine from the accused. Investigators said several NCRP complaints from different states were found linked to the bank accounts and mobile numbers used by the duo, indicating a large-scale, organised fraud operation. Further investigation is underway to identify other associates and victims.