BHUBANESWAR: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has arrested three inter-state fraudsters in separate cases of cyber scam amounting to a total of Rs 2.78 crore.
In the first case, the agency arrested Subham Sharma alias Sanjay Rana, a native of Delhi, and Amit Kumar from Uttarakhand for their alleged involvement in a digital arrest case amounting to Rs 1.38 crore.
Police said the duo had put a Bhubaneswar resident under digital arrest in 2024 by impersonating as cyber crime officers of Mumbai Police. Earlier, the agency had arrested a mother-son duo from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the case.
The gang’s members had threatened the victim that his Aadhaar card number was linked to a money laundering case and he would be apprehended soon. Due to fear and psychological pressure, the complainant had transferred the money to various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
During investigation, police carried out a detailed analysis of bank transactions and call records, which established the involvement of a Delhi-based cyber fraud network. Out of the cheated amount, Rs 13.50 lakh was received by Sharma and another Rs 13 lakh by Kumar.
Police also found that Sharma had created a fake identity in the name of Sanjay Rana to cheat gullible people. The cops seized a car from Sharma’s possession which he had reportedly purchased through the crime proceeds.
The accused were part of an organised cyber fraud syndicate engaged in creating fake identities, opening mule bank accounts, layering funds through multiple accounts and withdrawing money through various channels to conceal the trail of the crime proceeds, said the Crime Branch.
In the second incident, Crime Branch officers arrested a Delhi native, Yasheen Shah (38) on charges of duping a Bhubaneswar resident of `1.4 crore last year on the promise of providing him high returns by investing his money in the share market. Police had earlier arrested 15 fraudsters from various parts of the country in connection with the fraud.
The agency advised citizens to remain vigilant against digital arrest and various investment scams. “Citizens should immediately report suspicious calls to Cyber Helpline number - 1930 or through the National Cyber Crime reporting portal,” it said.
