BENGALURU: Cyber crime police busted an online jobs and investment fraud racket, and arrested 11 accused who used to lure people to invest money, with assurance of high-interest rates. The arrested are reportedly wanted in 2,143 cases reported across the country, in which they duped people to the tune of Rs 158.94 crore. In Karnataka, the gang has cheated at least 265 people, of whom 135 are from Bengaluru.
The accused targeted homemakers and others by offering them work-from-home jobs. They would initially give high-interest rates for small investments they would make. After the victims fell into the trap and started investing more, the accused would withdraw the amounts from banks and go incommunicado.
Four of the accused are from Maharashtra, five from Telangana and two from Karnataka. The accused have cheated victims from 28 states. The 2,143 cases have been filed based on the same 30 bank account numbers which they had used to cheat the victims. All 30 bank accounts have been frozen. Police managed to recover just Rs 62 lakh, as the remaining money has been withdrawn by the gang.
Eleven mobile phones, two laptops, SIM cards, cheque books and other valuables have been recovered. Officials took custody of the 11 accused and subjected them to intense questioning. “The gang has been active for more than a year. Details of the 2,143 cases were obtained from the NCRB portal. In Karnataka, the gang cheated 265 people, of whom 135 people were cheated in Bengaluru.
There are cases against the accused in 14 police stations in Bengaluru. Of the 11 accused, some are account holders. Police suspect there are more gang members operating from abroad. This is the first time all 11 accused have been arrested. The modus of the gang is the same, and all 30 account numbers are also the same. It is a very well-layered organised crime syndicate. They had different roles and responsibilities,” Police Commissioner B Dayananda said.
It may be recalled that the same cyber crime police had earlier busted another racket in which thousands of people had been cheated to the tune of Rs 854 crore. Nearly 5,000 cases were registered pertaining to the fraud. In Bengaluru, 17 cases were filed and Rs 60 lakh were frozen.