Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy Times of India
Gurgaon, April 11:
If you get a mail saying 'You have been lucky,' promising you of winning a huge amount in foreign currency, better become more careful.
Fraudsters can now go to any extent to win your confidence and persuade you to deposit money for processing the delivery of that said amount.
A retired colonel from Gurgaon, ended up depositing Rs 40 lakh in 25 separate accounts of a private bank after the fraudsters sent him several certificates including one that had an RBI stamp and another from Patiala House court to deceive him.
Two persons have been arrested.
The fraudsters, who were even in touch on telephone with the retired officer during this financial transaction, claimed they were working in foreign diplomatic missions in Delhi.
Although the police have arrested two youth Asang Zimik from Manipur and Sanjay Lama from West Bengal, police officers said that they are perhaps the last men in the long chain of fraudsters.
Sumit Kuhar, ACP, (DLF), said that the two accused have two bank accounts in which the colonel had deposited a certain amount in past seven months.
"We have interrogated them, but they claim they are unaware of the ringleader of the fraud.
They have also said that they were getting little cut from such transactions.
We have seized all the 25 accounts which were used by the gang to fool people," he added.
Kuhar said that they were close to cracking the case and would be arresting more persons involved in this fraud.
Police investigation showed that there was daily transaction of at least Rs 2-3 lakh in those 25 accounts.
"This indicates that more people are being cheated by the group," said a senior police officer.
The colonel had lodged a complaint with Gurgaon police in November last year saying he was cheated of a huge amount in this fraud.
The victim had received the first mail in September 2007, which mentioned that he was the lucky winner of US $5 crore.
The fraudsters came in contact with him and to win his faith started sending him relevant documents to pose as genuine players.
They asked him to make the payment for processing the delivery of the said amount.
"I was careful, but the gang is very smart.
They sent me certificates, which looked genuine.
These included an authorised money laundering certificate, anti-terrorist certificate, an RBI certificate and a communication from Patiala House court stating that only I should get the promised amount.
There was no way I could doubt their moves," said the officer, who did not want to be named.